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    Aflatoxin-producing fungi associated with pre-harvest maize contamination in Uganda

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    Journal Article (1.565Mb)
    Date
    2020-01
    Author
    Sserumaga, J.P.
    Ortega-Beltran, A.
    Wagacha, J.M.
    Mutegi, C.K.
    Bandyopadhyay, R.
    Type
    Journal Article
    Review Status
    Peer Review
    Target Audience
    Scientists
    Metadata
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    Abstract/Description
    Maize is an important staple crop for the majority of the population in Uganda. However, in tropical and subtropical climates, maize is frequently contaminated with aflatoxins, a group of cancer-causing and immuno-suppressive mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus section Flavi fungi. In Uganda, there is limited knowledge about the causal agents of aflatoxin contamination. The current study determined both the aflatoxin levels in pre-harvest maize across Uganda and the structures of communities of aflatoxin-producing fungi associated with the maize. A total of 256 pre-harvest maize samples were collected from 23 major maize-growing districts in eight agro-ecological zones (AEZ). Maize aflatoxin content ranged from 0 to 3760 ng/g although only around 5% for Ugandan thresholds. For EU it is about 16% of the samples contained aflatoxin concentrations above tolerance thresholds. A total of 3105 Aspergillus section Flavi isolates were recovered and these were dominated by the A. flavus L morphotype (89.4%). Densities of aflatoxin-producing fungi were negatively correlated with elevation. Farming systems and climatic conditions of the AEZ are thought to have influenced communities' structure composition. Fungi from different AEZ varied significantly in aflatoxin-producing abilities and several atoxigenic genotypes were identified. The extremely high aflatoxin concentrations detected in some of the studied regions indicate that management strategies should be urgently designed for use at the pre-harvest stage. Atoxigenic genotypes detected across Uganda could serve as aflatoxin biocontrol agents to reduce crop contamination from fields conditions and throughout the maize value chain.
    https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.108376
    Multi standard citation
    Permanent link to this item
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/6880
    IITA Authors ORCID
    Alejandro Ortega-Beltranhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3747-8094
    Charity Mutegihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3188-0480
    Ranajit Bandyopadhyayhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2422-4298
    Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
    https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.108376
    Research Themes
    Plant Production and Health
    IITA Subjects
    Aflatoxin; Agronomy; Food Security; Maize; Plant Breeding; Plant Diseases; Plant Health; Plant Production; Value Chains
    Agrovoc Terms
    Aspergillus Flavus; Aflatoxins; Agroecology; Maize; Uganda
    Regions
    Africa; East Africa; West Africa
    Countries
    Uganda
    Hubs
    Eastern Africa Hub; Headquarters and Western Africa Hub
    Journals
    International Journal of Food Microbiology
    Collections
    • Journal and Journal Articles4839
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