In Greece, studies have been conducted to examine the population
dynamics of A. carbonarius in grapes during the drying
phase for the production of dried vine fruit. Grapes were sun-dried
for 7e14 days and turned regularly to ensure even drying. They
were then processed and packaged. As mentioned earlier, during
this process the sugars concentrate with decrease in the moisture
content resulting in an almost selective medium for xerotolerant
moulds such as A. niger section nigri species. This survey showed
that for Corinthian currants (a commercial type of dried vine fruit)
contamination with mycotoxigenic A. carbonarius increased with
drying over a period of 10e14 days. At the end of the drying period,
before processing and packaging, A. carbonarius can occur with
a contamination rate