Isolation and molecular identification of mycotoxin producing fungi in durum wheat from Morocco

In the present study, a total of 1053 isolates of fungi were isolated from eighty one (81)samples of durum wheat collected in seven areas in Morocco (Khemiset; Béni-Mellal;Settat; Fès-Meknès; Skhirat-Témara; Marrakech; and Rabat-Salé). The molecularidentification of isolates was performed by a PCR-based method. Selected fungi strainswere then studied for their potential to produce mycotoxins especially ochratoxin A(OTA) and deoxynivalenol (DON). The results of biodiversity showed that the mostabundant species were found belonging to Alternaria spp. (86.2%), Fusarium spp.(71.1%), and Aspergillus spp. (14%). Results of LC analysis indicated also that 27 out of980 isolates (2.75 %) of Fusarium spp. produced the toxin DON. The maximum level ofDON found (5.22 μg/kg) was produced on a wheat sample from Settat area. Theseresults are in agreement with previous data where we reported the presence of DON byLC on the ground wheat (1.013 μg/kg). Results of LC analysis, showed also that OTAwas produced by 8 of 43 total isolates (18.6%) of Aspergillus section Nigri. Themaximum level of OTA produced found also in a wheat sample from Settat area (0.72μg/kg). Molecular identification of the isolates showed the presence of F. graminearum(11.1%), F. equiseti (61.1%), F. ecuminatum (5.5%), F. sporotrichioides (5.5%), F.verticillioides (11.1%), F. coeruleum (5.5%) and F. oxysporum (5.5%). The identificationof Aspergillus species showed the abundance of A. flavus (41.1%), A. niger (35.6%), A.tubingensis (15.1%) and A. niger aggregate (8.2%).!