Aflatoxin-producing fungi in stored paddy

Stored paddy (150 samples) collected from 3 different storehouses in Tamil Nadu and threshed rice grains (20 samples) from local warehouses and retailers were assayed for the extent of fungal contamination by blotter and dilution plate methods. The contaminated samples that fluoresced in UV light and cultures of fungi isolated from stored samples were subjected to chemical extraction for aflatoxins. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 7 out of 17 isolates ofAspergillus flavus and 1 out of 6Aspergillus parasiticus. Moisture content of the samples was correlated with the number of fungi isolated and the type of storehouse from which the samples were collected.