Fungal and Mycotoxin contamination of stored maize grains in kebbi state, north-western Nigeria

Research Article

Fungal and Mycotoxin contamination of stored maize grains in kebbi state, north-western Nigeria

Kasimu Shehu, Ibrahim Alhaji Salau, Naziru Salisu

Corresponding Author : Ibrahim A. Salau

Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State Nigeria

Email ID : ibrahimasalau@gmail.com

Received : 2020-08-12 Accepted : 2020-09-29 Published : 2020-09-29

Abstract : Studies were conducted to determine the fungal and mycotoxin contamination of stored maize grains in Kebbi state. A total of 93 samples of maize grains comprising 31 each from three (3) emirates councils (Argungu, Gwandu and Yawuri) were analysed for the presence, incidence and levels of Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), Fumonisins B1 and phenotypic characterization of fungal contaminants, using standard mycological techniques and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Total Fungal Count (TFC) on contaminated products ranged from 1.8 x 103 to 2.3 x 104 CFU/g. Fusarium graminearum and Aspergillus flavus was the major source of mycotoxins contamination and the most frequently isolated followed by A. parasiticus and A. niger. The least in occurrence were Penicillium notatum and Aspergillus fumigatus. Aflatoxins account for 76%, 87% and 87% in Gwandu, Argungu, and Yawuri emirates samples at concentrations ranging from 0.1-211 μg/kg, 0.2-116 μg/kg and 0.1-252.5 μg/kg respectively. Fumonisins B1 was detected (38.6%, 48.4% and 38.6%), at 1.2-18.1 μg/kg, 0.4-29.8 μg/kg and 0.3-17.3 μg/kg concentrations for Gwandu, Argungu, and Yawuri emirates respectively. The results show that there were significant (P<0.05) differences between the samples analyzed in the State. Findings from this study affirm substantial contamination of maize with fungi and mycotoxins which are potentially hazardous to human health. Research needs to be done on management strategies for controls of mycotoxins and develop storage structures convenient for the storage of maize grains over a long period of time.

Keywords : Maize grains, Fungi, Mycotoxin, Contamination and Kebbi State

Citation : Ibrahim A. Salau et al. (2020). Fungal and Mycotoxin contamination of stored maize grains in kebbi state, north-western Nigeria. J. of Advanced Botany and Zoology, V8I1.04. DOI : 10.5281/zenodo.4074249

Copyright : © 2020 Ibrahim A. Salau . This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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