Mycoflora and potential for mycotoxin production of freshly harvested black bean from the Argentinean main production area.

A mycological survey was carried out, for the first time, on black bean samples from the northwestern Argentinean province of Salta in the 1999 harvest season. Ten varieties of black beans were evaluated at three locations. Species of the genus Alternaria were the most prevalent component of the black bean mycoflora. Species of Fusarium, Sclerotinia, Rhizoctonia and Acremonium were also recorded. The predominant species of the genera isolated were Alternaria alternata, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium semitectum and Acremonium strictum. An analysis of variance was applied to determine possible differences between black bean varieties. Variety FT88/519 was the most susceptible to Sclerotinia sclerotinia infection, while the variety DOR 604 was the least susceptible. As toxigenic species were recovered, Alternaria toxins, zearalenone and trichothecenes may pose a contamination risk for black bean.