A study of fungi contaminating local and imported barley sold in feed stores in the Msallata region

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate fungal contamination in local and imported barley grains in the Misrata region in April 2025. The results showed that all analyzed grain samples were contaminated with fungi to varying degrees. Imported barley samples were the most contaminated. The use of potato dextrose agar culture medium resulted in the isolation of 62 fungal isolates from local barley grains and 88 isolates from imported barley grains. The most prevalent and prominent fungi identified in local barley grains were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus fumigitus. The most prevalent and prominent fungi identified in imported barley grains were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium chrysogenum.