Contribution of the Fungal Flora and Mycotoxins of Some Canned Tomato Paste Samples

Abstract

Twenty-two species belonging to seven genera were isolated and identified from 21 tomato paste samples on glucose-Czapek's (5 genera and 14 species) and 10% NaCl-glucose-Czapek's (6 genera and 17 species) agar media, at 28 + 2°C. On glucose-Czapek's agar medium the gross total count of fungi was 61890 colonies/g in all samples and the most common fungi were Asperigillus fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger and Penicillum oxalicum. On 10% NaCl-glucose-Czapek's agar, the gross total count of halophilic and/or halotolerant fungi was 22250 colonies/g and the most common species were Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. sydowii and Eurotium montevidensis.