First Report of Penicillium Polonicum Produce Ochratoxin A on Rice in Iraq

This study aimed to isolate and identify fungal species associated with both locally produced and imported rice grains in Iraq, and to assess their ability to produce ochratoxin A (OTA). Twenty rice samples were collected from markets in Baghdad Governorate. The results revealed contamination with the following fungal genera: Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Cladosporium sp., Monascus sp., Trichothecium sp., Moniliella sp., Alternaria sp., Mucor sp., Curvularia sp., Fusarium spp., and Yeast. Aspergillus spp. Showed the highest frequency (25%) in surface-sterilized samples, while Penicillium spp. was predominant (35%) in non-sterilized samples. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis demonstrated that 36 out of 45 fungal isolates possessed OTA-producing potential. Three isolates (PM11, PM18, and PM20) exhibited high OTA production. These isolates were molecularly identified as Penicillium polonicum, showing 99% sequence similarity with reference strains in the NCBI database. Quantitative analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) recorded high OTA concentrations produced by these isolates: 561.77 ppb, 518.95 ppb, and 495.9 ppb per kg, respectively. This study represents the first documented report of P. polonicum contamination and ochratoxin A production in locally and imported rice varieties in Iraq.