TITLE:
A Survey of Fungal Contamination Associated with Barberry (Berberis spp.) in Iran
AUTHORS:
Mehdi Jahani, Ommolbanin Motamed Rezaei, Maryam Khodadadi, Efat Alemzadeh
KEYWORDS:
Aspergillus spp.; Barberry; Fungal Contamination; Penicillium spp.
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.8,
July
30,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Seedless
barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma) is one of the few
unique crops grown only in Iran and southkhorasan. Barberry is a well known medicinal plant
in Iran and has been widely used as food additive. The comprehensive survey of fungal
contamination of barberry was undertaken in the market of Birjand, during March
to June at 2012. Fungal infections of barberry were studied in thirty samples.
Among these, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. and Mucor spp. were major contaminants also the results showed that 57% of barberry was infected
and most fungal species related to Aspergillus spp. and penicillium spp. Therefore it needs to undertake the management practices.