A research on occurrence of ochratoxin a in dried figs contaminated with black moulds

Dried fig is economically one of the most important export product among the dried fruits produces in Turkey. Mycotoxins that are frequently observed in pre and post harvest phases cause considerable market loses. In dried figs, Ochratoxin A is mycotoxin that is dangerous for human and animal health. The study was carried out with the aim of determining the level of Ochratoxin A on dried figs that contains black mould, its relation to quality analysis criteria and measured black mold counts. The research material of our study consisted of black mouldy Sarılop fig variety that were obtained from the member exporters of the Aegean Exporters Associations of Turkey. Ochratoxin A analysis were conducted by using immunoaffinity columns in HPLC. 14% of the samples were determined to have OTA and the rest were clean. OTA amounts were mostly measured between 0.5-10 ppb. The sample with highest L (the most light color) value had the lowest OTA value. 72% of the samples were observed as sunburned, and the samples with OTA had different sunburn ratios. Furthermore, 18% of the sampled gave brightgreenish- yellow fluorescence under UV light whereas, one sample among the samples that gave fluorescence was observed to have both OTA and light. 2 samples among 7 samples with OTA were not observed to have black mould whereas, the rest 5 samples were measured to have different black mould values. In general, no statistically significant relationship was found between black mould counts and OTA values. Even if, it was previously thought black moulds (Aspergillus spp.) produce OTA, the black mould counts were not significant in determining OTA. Keywords: Dried Fig, Ficus carica L., Ochratoxin A, Aspergillus niger