Growth Modeling Kinetics of Aspergillus flavus in Dried Jujube at Different Temperatures

Dried jujube is a characteristic fruit of Xinjiang. Aspergillus is one of the main pathogens that causes mold on dried jujube, and A. flavus is a toxin-producing species, the aflatoxin produced by A. flavus is extremely toxic and carcinogenic. In this study, the growth kinetic models of A. flavus isolated from red jujube at different temperatures and times were fitted to Huang model and linear equation respectively, the Cardinal model was used to describe the growth rate and lag time of A. flavus on dried jujube agar. It turned out that 30–35 °C was the optimal temperature for growing A. flavus, so dried jujube should avoid storing in this temperature range. The kinetic model established in this study will help to understand the growth characteristics of A. flavus, and lay a foundation for evaluating the quality of stored dried jujube and predictions of shelf life, which are conducive to optimizing storage methods for dried jujube. It can be judged according to the value of Af and Bf, the Huang model had a better fitting effect than the Baranyi model, The two models all had the highest growth rate at 35 °C, and A. flavus grew more vigorously and the lag period shortened as the temperature was increased. The secondary Cardinal model had a good fitting effect on the growth rate and lag time, and the secondary Ratkowsky model had a good fitting effect on the growth rate. This study may have theoretical and application value to strengthen the safety of jujube storage in the future.