NATURAL OCCURRENCE OF OCHRATOXIN A AND TOXIGENIC ASPERGILLUS OCHRACEUS STRAINS IN DRY FRUIT SLICES OF QUINCES FROM JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Ochratoxin A was detected for the first time as a natural contaminant in dry fruit slices of quinces (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) collected from different markets of Jammu and Kashmir state. Investigations revealed that 32% of the examined samples were positive for this toxin and the level of contamination recorded was up to 1.63 mg/ kg. Frequency level of toxigenic Aspergillus ochraceus isolates recovered from the surface of this dry fruit was low but they could produce up to 3.4 mg/l of ochratoxin A on a semisynthetic medium.