07-08-2013, 01:02 PM
Seed-borne mycoflora of Chilgoza (Pinus gerardiana Wall.)
ABSTRACT
Seeds of Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana Wall.; family Pinaceae) constitute an important non wood forest commodity that are consumed worldwide for their nutritious seed kernels. However, improper post-harvest handling of chilgoza during collection and adoption of unhygienic, traditional and unscientific methods for drying and storage provides an opportunity for aero-mycoflora to contaminate them. In view of this, a study was conducted to enumerate the mycoflora associated with chilgoza marketed in Jammu. A total of fifty fungal species and one variety belonging to 21 genera were isolated from fifty eight samples of chilgoza using surface washing and standard blotter method. These were Acremonium (two species), Alternaria (one species), Arthrinium (one species), Aspergillus (thirteen species), Calonectria (one species), Cladosporium (two species), Epicoccum (one species), Eurotium (two species and one variety), Curvularia (two species), Fusarium (four species), Gonatobotrys (one species), Microascus (one species), Mucor (one species), Paecilomyces (two species), Penicillium (ten species), Phoma (one species), Rhizopus (one species), Syncephalastrum (one species), Talaromyces (one species), Trichoderma (one species) and Trichothecium (one species). Several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium isolated from chilgoza reportedly have notable mycotoxigenic activity and their predominance in these market samples indicates a probable presence of their toxins, which need further evaluation.