Abstract

JERKE, Gladis; SALVATIERRA, Karina Alejandra  and  BARGARDI, Severino. Aflatoxigenic aspergillus isolates from tea (Camellia sinensis) during its traditional manufacture. Rev. cienc. tecnol. [online]. 2009, n.12, pp.58-64. ISSN 1851-7587.

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify, at genera and species level, strains of Aspergillus spp obtained from different stages of black tea traditional processing. Strains taxonomically characterized as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus were evaluated in terms of their potential biosynthesizing aflatoxins "in vitro". A total of 72 tea samples were taken from traditional processing plants from Misiones, Argentina. Out of a total of 180 strains of Aspergillus spp. isolated, 76 strains (42 %) were characterized as A. flavus, of which 65 strains (86 %) showed aflatoxicogenic capacity "in vitro", and 11 strains (14 %) were negative. 47 % of all strains of A. flavus isolated was able to biosynthesize aflatoxins B₁and B₂ while 35 % only synthesized aflatoxin B₁. There were no strains of A. parasiticus.

Keywords : Aflatoxins; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus parasíticus; Black tea.

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