ESISTANCE OF SOME FUNGITO GAMMA . ' RADIATION AND THE ROLE OF CELLULAR COMPOSITION IN THE RADIATION RESISTANCE

Abstract

There are many different methods used in inhibiting and controlling fungal growth in food and in agricultural commodities. Traditional methods using chemical compounds, heat and biological control have limited effect and many disadvantages as well. A modern, advanced and clean technology is now well established and known as "Food irradiation technology". This technology approved to be effective and efficient in controlling fungi contaminating agricultural commodities. However, it was found that some fungal genera such as Curvularia., Alternaria and Fusarium are more resistance to ionizing radiation than others. The aim of the present study was:

1- Isolation and identification of radiation-resistant fungi (Curvularia spp., Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp.) from their natural products particularly foods, feeds, soil, .....etc. 2- Determine the "radiation decimal reduction dose" (Dw-value) of fungal spores to know the sensitivity or resistance of these molds to irradiation. 3- Examine the role of cellular composition (total proteins, amino acids,

total lipids, fatty acids, DNA and RNA content) in the radiation­

resistance.

4- Prevention of mold growth contaminating the food by usmg irradiation.

In this study, fifty three isolates of, Curvularia (C), Alternaria (A) and Fusarium (F) were isolated from different sources i.e. wheat (w), potato (p), tomato (t), mandarin (m), fenugreek (f), bread (b), orange (o), lupine (l), chicken feed (c), soil (s) and air (a). Five isolates were selected