Three species of Aspergillus section Flavi ( Aspergillus flavus, A.parasiticus and A. oryzea) and five species of Aspergillus section Nigri (A. awamori, A. carbonarius, A. foetidus, A.japonicus and A.niger) have been isolated and identified from several agricultural commodities (Cheese, dried fruits, seeds) and from soil samples collected from Duhok governorate . Aflatoxigenic and Ochratoxigenic strains of Aspergillus were detected by culture-based methods. These include fluorescence upon exposure to UV long –wavelength (365 nm) light and pigment production after exposure to ammonium hydroxide. The ratio of aflatoxigenic isolates of A. flavus was higher than non-aflatoxigenic strains. All tested strains of A. parasiticus showed aflatoxigenic potential . A. carbonarius was the only species of Aspergillus section Nigri showed a positive ability for Ochratoxin A production. Workers in under-developing countries may use cultural assay for inexpensively identifying aflatoxigenic and Ochratoxigenic Aspergllus contaminated food and feeds.

A taxonomic study on the genus Penicillium of the family Trichocomaceae (Eurotiales):Ascomycota inhabiting soils in Kurdistan region of Iraq was carried out using phenotypical and cultural characteristics. Twelve taxa have been identified . The identified species were P.aurantiogriseum, P.brevicompactum, P.camemberti, P.citrinum, P.corylophilum, P.digitatum, P.echinulatum, P.funiculosum, P.glabrum, P.roqueforti, P.rugulosum and P.variabile. A total of five species have been reported for the first time from Iraqi soil. The new records include P.aurantiogriseum, P.camemberti, P.corylophilum, P.echinulatum, and P.variabile. A brief description based on cultural and morphological characteristics is provided for each species. A dichotomous key in provided to facillate the identification of the reported species.

A taxonomic study of Aspergillus section Nigri (formerly A.niger group) inhabiting soil at Kurdistan region of Iraq was carried out using phenotypical and cultural characteristics. Identification of the important and most common black aspergilli remains problematic due to the variability of phenotypic features. Five species of Aspergillus section Nigri have been identified. These include A.awamori, A.carbonarius, A.foetidus, A.japonicus, A.niger. The four former species are newly recorded for Iraqi soil. Abrief description based on cultural and morphological characteristics is provided for each species. A key is provided to facilitate the identification of the reported species

The teleomorphic genera were Byssochlamys (2 species), Chaetosartorya (1 species), Neosartorya (1 species), Eurotium (2 species), and Emericella (2 species). The identified teleomorphs were: Byssochlamys fulva, B. nivea, Chaetosartoya cremea, Neosartorya fischeri, Eurotium amstelodami, E. chevalieri, Emericella nidulans and E.rugulosa.