Abstract
Sixteen fungi were isolated from ten samples of stored corn grains , included Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp. and Rhizopus spp., Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. These fungi were found in high frequency whereas Cladosporium spp., Drechslera spp., Macrophomina spp., Mucor spp., Pythium spp., Rhizopus spp. and Stemphylium spp., were found in a lower proportions Among four identified species of the genus Aspergillus, ( A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger and A. parasiticus) , the isolates of A. flavus produce AFB1 and AFB2 only , whereas those of A. parasiticus were non-aflatoxigenic .
The occurrence of aflatoxigenic isolates of A. flavus in the tested seed samples confirmed that these samples were contaminated with afltoxins. There was a relation between the level of aflatoxin in the grains and isolation percentage of A. flavus. The level of AF B1 ( 1.2-10 ng / gm ) was detected in seed samples ranged between 1.2 to 10 ng/g.