Population Levels of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus in Field Soils in Two Areas of Kyushu District

Abstract

The population levels of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus in field soil were examined in two geographically different areas of the Kyushu district. The levels of A. flavus populations in the Kumamoto and Miyakonojo areas were 30±9.7 and 11±2.3 propagules/g soil, respectively. Although the population levels were low, A. flavus seemed to be distributed widely in the field soils of both areas. No A. parasiticus was detected in this study. A. flavus populations were high in some soils. However, the influence of the crops planted on the population levels of A. flavus was not clear in corn, peanut and sweet potato crops. Five out of 28 A. flavus isolates from both areas produced aflatoxins.