Fungal infection and possibility of aflatoxin contamination on black and white pepper

The objective of this study was to get information on the population of Aspergillus flavus and other storage fungi, aflatoxin and moisture contents of black (20 samples) and white (20 samples) pepper obtained from some markets and supermarkets in Bogor, and some exporters in Bangka Island and Lampung Province. The moisture content was determined using distillation method. Isolation of A. flavus and other storage fungi were carried out using dilution method, followed by pouring plate on Aspergillus flavus and Parasiticus Agar (AFPA) and Dichloran 18 percent Glycerol Agar (DG18), respectively. Aflatoxin content was determined using Thin Layer Chromatography (TCL) method. The moisture content of black and white pepper obtained from some markets and supermarkets in Bogor were between 10.96-12.47 percent and 11.49-12.97 percent, respectively, while those from exporters in Bangka Island and Lampung Province were between 9.98-11.99 percent and 11.48-12.48 percent, respectively. The moisture content of black and white pepper obtained from exporters were lower than the national standard. Eighteen out of 20 black pepper samples and 16 out of 20 white pepper samples were infected with A. flavus. Seventeen fungal species were isolated from black pepper. They were Aspergillus candidus, A. flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, A. penicillioides, A. tamarii, A. versicolor, A. wentii, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Endomyces fibuliger, Eurotium chevalieri, E. repens, Mucor circinelloides, Paecilomyces variotii, Penicillium citrinum, Syncephalastrum racemosum, and Wallemia sebi. Fourteen fungal species were isolated from white pepper. They were A. candidus, A. flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, A. penicillioides, A. tamarii, A. versicolor, A. wentii, C. cladosporioides, E. fibuliger, E. chevalieri, E. repens, P. variotii, P. citrinum, and P. islandicum. The predominant fungi on black pepper were A. candidus, A. niger, A. versicolor, and E. chevalieri, while on white pepper were A. candidus, A. flavus, A. versicolor, E. chevalieri, P. variotii, P. citrinum, and P. islandicum. Aflatoxins were not detected in all samples