Aflatoxin-producing strains of Aspergillus flavus in the mould flora of the different greenhouse substrates for the cultivation of cucumber (Cucumis sativus, L.)

Abstract Fungal contamination in a greenhouse for production of cucumbers ( Cucumis sativus L.) was studied. 158 samples of water, sand, air, leaves and fruits were analyzed. 25 different genera were isolated, the most frequent ones being Pullularia, Aspergillus, Paecilomyces, Alternaria, Fusarium, Rhizopus and Penicillium. Pullularia, Aspergillus, Paecilomyces and Penicillium were present in all types of samples studied. Twenty-one strains of A. flavus were identified and only eight of those produced aflatoxins “in vitro”.