ARSHAD HUSSAINSupervised By : Prof. Dr. Ghosia Lutfullah2026-07-172026-07-172011http://repository.uop.edu.pk/123456789/458In this study survey was conducted to determine the incidence of total aflatoxins in some dried fruits, nuts, cereals and beans. Samples of dried fruits/nuts (180) and cereals/beans (160) were analyzed for the detection of total AFs by high pressure liquid chromatography. The contamination level (%) of total AFs was observed as in; dried apricot (20 %), dates (10 %), dried figs (50 %), dried mulberries (26 %) and raisins (20 %), apricot kernels (26 %), almonds without shell (30 %), walnuts with shell (40 %), walnuts without shell (70 %), peanut with shell (40 %), peanuts without shell (50 %), pistachios with shell (20 %), pistachios without shell (50 %) and pine nuts with shell (20 %). The contamination level (%) of total AFs was also observed as in; rice (25 %), rice broken (15 %), wheat (20 %), maize (40 %) barley (20 %) and sorghum (30 %), red kidney beans (20 %), split peas (27 %), chick pea (10 %), cow pea (20 %), and soybean (15 %). The studies on decontamination by different methods / techniques were also evaluated to decontaminate the mycotoxin (aflatoxins) contaminated agricultural commodities. In biological decontamination, the anti-fungal activity of some chemicals, herbal compounds/spices and plants at different concentrations were evaluated against the toxin producing Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus growth inhibition and aflatoxin production. Among the chemicals screened, benzoic acid (0.1 — 0.5 %), propionic acid (0.1 — 0.5 %) and copper sulphate (0.2 — 0.5 %) showed complete inhibition of Aspergillus flavus growth. Sodium propionate and potassium metabisulphite showed high, while ammonia, urea and citric acid were moderate in inhibiting fungal growth.enThesis