Richa Rani and Dr. Shivanand Singh

The present communications is a survey report to obtain the incidence of toxic mycoflora on seven types of agricultural products and their by-products incorporated in fish culture as supplementary dietary items. Samples were obtained from various sources of Darbhanga, Madhubani and Samastipur districts during summer, monsoon and winter months. Altogether 1774 post-harvest samples were screened. Studies revealed an alarming level of mycobial contamination by Aspergillus group of fungi dominated by A. flavus (51.5). The other species of the group recorded were A. niger (50.8), A. ochraceus (28.1), A. parasiticus (21.1). A. versicolor (12.2), A. rubur (6.9) and A. fumigatus (2.2). Among the penicillium group P. viradicatum (17.7) and P. islandicum (14.2) infestation was prominently recorded. Analysis of the data indicated that the degree of infestation was maximum on the samples obtained from retail shops. The incidence of toxic mycoflora at source level may be expressed as retail shop> farmer's godown> wholesale depots> oil mills. Studies made so far emphasizes the need of elaborate investigation on this score since most of the fungal species recorded, hold recognition for their toxic and carcinogenic potentials. The frequency of occurrence on the present substrates also indicate some disastrous consequences at any opportune moment affecting the fish culture in this geographical region of Bihar. As a consequence of aquaculture vis-à-vis fish culture becoming more and more spectacular, the outlook has undergone tremendous changes attaining unimaginably large dimensions. In particular, freshwater aquaculture holds the future of the fisheries of our country. At this juncture when further intensification of freshwater aquaculture is being emphasized, it becomes highly relevant that all possible constraints are considered in their proper perspective.

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