Some spoilage microflora of desert truffles 'Al-Kamah' of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Some surface mycoflora, which might spoil truffles, were investigated on four different truffles, Tirmania nivea (Desf. ex Fr.) Trapp., T. pinoyi (Maire) Malençon, Terfezia boudieri Chatin, and T. claveryi Chatin. Twenty-three species of fungi were isolated of which Aspergillus and Mucor constituted the predominant genera. Bacteria were also found on all truffles both from the outer coat and the inner parts. Bacillus species and E. coli were isolated most frequently from the truffles tested.