Fungal Infestations in Some Dry Fruits during Storage in Different Seasons

Abstract

Cuddapah almond (Buchanania lanzan), Coconut (Cocos nucifera) and Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) are important and valuable food commodities. During storage the food commodities are spoiled by abiotic and biotic agents amongst whom fungi play important role. In the present study mycoflora of Cuddapah almond, Coconut, and Date-palm was studied using blotter method, dilution method and agar plate method during different seasons such as rainy, winter and summer. Osmophilic fungi were also isolated by increasing sugar concentration in CzapekDox agar medium. Altogether 14 fungal species were isolated from the kernels of Buchnanialanzan, 19 species from Cocos nucifera and 22 fungal species from Phoenix dactylifera during all three seasons.