FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH Sesamum indicum L. SEEDS AND OCHRATOXIGENIC POTENTIAL OF SOME Aspergillus AND Penicillium ISOLATES IN DUHOK

Sesame the oil-based seed crop Sesamum indicum L. has been widely planted and consume in Iraq. Unfortunately, sesame seeds are particularly susceptible to different infectious agents especially fungi in the field specially if stored improperly. Using culture and immunological approaches, the current study tried to analyze the ochratoxigenic potential of several Aspergillus and Penicillium isolates from sesame samples in Duhok city. The results showed the isolation of 24 fungal species belong to 14 genera with number of sterile mycelia and yeasts, also showed the potency of 17 isolates of Aspergillus and Penicillium to produce OTA. Ochratoxin A (OTA) were detected in cultures of six species of section nigri (A.carbonarius and A.niger aggregate), one of Aspergillus section circumdati species (A .ochraceus) and one species of Penicillium (P.verrucosum). OTA was found at level from 0.63 to 0.70 ng\ml in A.carbonarius isolates; from 0.60 to 0.64 ng\ml in A.niger aggreg. isolates; in P.verrucosum from 0.52 to 0.61 ng\ml and in A.ochraceus isolates 0.23 -0.62 ng\ml while none of both A.sclerotiorum, A.japonicus isolate produce. According to our findings, the occurrence of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus and Penicillium isolates in sesame seed samples poses a specific risk to consumer health.