Prevalence and distribution of aflatoxin contamination in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Mali, West Africa
Views
0% 0
Downloads
0 0%
Limited access
View/Open
Corresponding Author
Date
2015-01-08
Date Issued
ISI Journal
Impact factor: 1.652 (Year: 2015)
Citation
Farid Waliyar, K. Vijay Krishna Kumar, Moses Osiru, Hari kishan Sudini, Adama Traore. (8/1/2015). Prevalence and distribution of aflatoxin contamination in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L. ) in Mali, West Africa. Crop Protection, 70 (5), pp. 1-7.
Abstract
Groundnut is a major source of livelihood for the rural poor in Mali. However, the crop is prone to preand
post-harvest aflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.
Therefore, to minimize health related hazards from exposure to aflatoxin contaminated food, information
on the prevalence and distribution of aflatoxins (AFB1) in the groundnut value chain in Mali is needed for
timely interventions. To this end, a study was undertaken in three districts (Kayes, Kita and Kolokani) to
assess aflatoxin contamination in the field and storage. Ninety pod samples in each district were
collected from fields (30 villages/district and 3 samples/village) during 2009 and 2010. Pre-harvest
contamination was estimated at harvest, whereas samples for post-harvest contamination were
collected from granaries of the same farmers at a monthly interval for 3 months. The villages in each
district were categorized into safe, acceptable, moderate risk and high risk areas based on pre-harvest
AFB1 levels. Kayes recorded more pod samples (77%) within 20 mg/kg of pre-harvest aflatoxins followed
by Kolokani (55.6%) and Kita (45.6%) based on 2009 and 2010 mean values. Toxin concentrations at
harvest were comparatively less in Kayes during both years. Further, Kayes had more villages under safe
and acceptable limits when compared to Kolokani and Kita. Overall, 46 out of 90 villages in the three
districts had acceptable pre-harvest toxin limits. Further, 12 villages in Kolokani were in the high risk
category. An increase in toxin levels was noticed with period of storage during both years. Comparatively,
toxin levels after storage were least in Kayes during 2009. Kayes also recorded less AFB1 levels in 2010
after Kita. Our results indicate that Kayes is relatively safe over Kita and Kolokani in pre-harvest aflatoxin
contamination. The reasons for district-wide variations in pre-harvest contamination; and the reasons
for post-harvest flare up of the problem are discussed. Further, proper storage of pods at farmers' granaries
in Mali is suggested to overcome the problem from reaching alarming levels.