Mycoflora Associated With Dry Dates In Upper Egypt: I - Mesophilic And Thermophilic Fungi

Abstract

Twenty-eight species which belong to 16 genera were identified from 30 dry date samples collected from Upper Egypt and plated at 28°C. Aspergillus, PeniciUium and Fusanum were the most common genera on the carposphere and the carpoplane. A. niger, p. rugulosum and F. solaniweTG the most common species on the carposphere while A. niger and Alternaria alternata were prevalent on the carpoplane. At 45°C, six species, in addition to one variety of Humicola grisea, which belong to five genera were collected from the carposphere and carpoplane of 30 date samples and A. fumigatus was the most common species. There is no correlation between the fungal composition, density of populations and the chemical composition of the dates of the five varieties.