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Ecology and Epidemiology

Postharvest Pathology and Mycotoxin Contamination of Iranian Pistachio Nuts. H. Mojtahedi, Member of Horticulture Institute, University of Isfahan, Iran; D. Danesh(2), B. Haghighi(3), and R. Barnett(4). (2)Member of Horticulture Institute, University of Isfahan, Iran; (3)Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Isfahan, Iran; (4)World Health Organization Visiting Professor, University of Isfahan, Iran. Phytopathology 68:1800-1804. Accepted for publication 7 July 1978. Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-68-1800.

Fresh, uncracked pistachio nuts were tested for Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin before and after a commercial washing treatment. The wash water was a source of fungus contamination, but in spite of this, no aflatoxin was produced when the nuts were exposed to low humidity after immediate drying in the sun. Commercially hulled and dehulled nuts, inoculated with A. flavus spores, were incubated for as long as 4 mo at relative humidities of 25, 65, and 100%. No aflatoxin was detected on nuts stored at the lower humidities, but was detected at 100% relative humidity.