LUSINE HAKOBYAN 1*, KARINE GRIGORYAN 2 1. Yerevan State University, Faculty of Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, 0025, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
2. Yerevan State University, Research Institute of Biology, 0025, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
*Corresponding author: hakobyanl@ysu.am
Mycotoxins are especially dangerous biological contaminants of food. OTA (ochtatoxin A) is the main problem in countries with developed winemaking and viticulture. The aim of our work was to identify contamination level of dried vine fruit by ochratoxigenic and aflatoxigenic filamentous fungi and their mycotoxins and to reveal dangers for consumer. Dried vine fruit sold in Armenia including local production and imported were analyzed. Quantities of OTA and AFB1 (aflatoxin B1) in fungi extracts and in dried grape samples were determined by TLC (Thin-Layer Chromatography) method. 508 strains of potential producers of OTA and AFB1 from genus Aspergillus were isolated from dried grape and identified. 30 strains of A. carbonarius, 15 strains of A. niger, 3 strains of A. ochraceus and 12 strains of A. flavus were analyzed on mycotoxin content. OTA were revealed in 20 strains of A. carbonarius and 6 strains of A. niger. In order to discover the sources of contamination of Armenian dried vine fruit by toxigenic species, mycological analysis of fresh grape berries was carried out. 218 potentially toxigenic strains were isolated and 43 strains (20 A. carbonarius, 16 A. niger and 7 A. flavus) were analyzed. None of them produced mycotoxins. OTA and AFB1 were revealed in dried grape samples of Armenian production.