1 groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Mali, West Africa 2 3 ABSTRACT 13 Groundnut is a major source of livelihood for the rural poor in Mali. However, the crop is 14 prone to pre-and post-harvest aflatoxin contamination caused by Aspergillus flavus and A. 15 parasiticus. Therefore, to minimize health related hazards from exposure to aflatoxin 16 contaminated food, information on the prevalence and distribution of aflatoxins (AFB1) in 17 the groundnut value chain in Mali is needed for timely interventions. To this end, a study was 18 undertaken in three districts (Kayes, Kita and Kolokani) to assess aflatoxin contamination in 19 the field and storage. Ninety pod samples in each district were collected from fields (30 20 villages/district and 3 samples/village) during 2009 and 2010. Pre-harvest contamination was 21 estimated at harvest, whereas samples for post-harvest contamination were collected from 22 granaries of the same farmers at a monthly interval for 3 months. The villages in each district 23 were categorized into safe, acceptable, moderate risk and high risk areas based on pre-harvest 24 AFB1 levels. Kayes recorded more pod samples (77%) within 20 µg/kg of pre-harvest 25 aflatoxins followed by Kolokani (55.6%) and Kita (45.6%) based on 2009 and 2010 mean 26 values. Toxin concentrations at harvest were comparatively less in Kayes during both years. 27 Further, Kayes had more villages under safe and acceptable limits when compared to 28 Kolokani and Kita. Overall, 46 out of 90 villages in the three districts had acceptable pre-29 harvest toxin limits. Further, 12 villages in Kolokani were in the high risk category. An 30 increase in toxin levels was noticed with period of storage during both years. Comparatively, 31 toxin levels after storage were least in Kayes during 2009. Kayes also recorded less AFB1 32 levels in 2010 after Kita. Our results indicate that Kayes is relatively safe over Kita and 33 Kolokani in pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination. The reasons for district-wide variations in 34 pre-harvest contamination; and the reasons for post-harvest flare up of the problem are 35 discussed. Further, proper storage of pods at farmers' granaries in Mali is suggested to 36 overcome the problem from reaching alarming levels. 37 38

Six Alabama Satsuma mandarin orchards (four conventionally sprayed and two unsprayed) were surveyed during 2005 and 2006 to determine the population dynamics of arthropod pests and their natural enemies. Twenty-eight arthropod pest species were encountered; the major foliage pests were citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead); purple scale, Lepidosaphes beckii (Newman); Glover scale, L. gloveri (Packard); and citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor). Two distinct population peaks were recorded for citrus whitefly at most locations. The most important direct sources of citrus whitefly mortality were parasitism by Encarsia lahorensis (Howard) and infection by the pathogenic fungus, Aschersonia aleyrodis Webber. In general, all stages of both scale insects (purple scale and Glover scale) were present in the orchards year-round, indicative of overlapping generations; however, the highest densities were recorded during the early season. Citrus whitefly, purple scale, and Glover scale were more abundant on leaves collected from the interior of the tree canopy than in the exterior canopy. Citrus red mite densities were highest in the spring, with populations declining at the start of the summer, and were more abundant in the exterior canopy than in the interior canopy. The most important natural enemies of citrus red mite were predatory mites belonging to several families, of which Typhlodromalus peregrinus Muma (Phytoseiidae) was the predominant species. Major differences were recorded in the relative abundance of different arthropod pest species in the orchards: citrus whitefly, purple scale, and Glover scale predominated in the unsprayed orchards, whereas citrus red mite infestations were more severe in the sprayed orchards. The results are discussed in relation to the possible effect of orchard management practices on abundance of the major pests.

Fruit flies of sweet oranges in Nigeria: species diversity, relative abundance and spread in major producing areas.Abstract --Introduction. Fruit fly attack on citrus causes economic yield losses in Nigeria. The high demand for sweet oranges in recent times necessitates the need to develop control strategies that can reduce fruit fly damage and ameliorate yield. This can be achieved by identifying the diversity, abundance and spread of major sweet orange fruit flies. Materials and methods. Surveys were conducted during the citrus fruit maturity periods of 2003 and 2006 in citrus-producing areas of Nigeria. Owners of the sampled orchards were interviewed on their cultural practices that could contribute to fruit fly abundance and spread. The fruit flies were sampled by using two types of trap; namely, the McPhail ® trap with yeast hydrolysate bait and the yellow sticky trap impregnated with ammonium acetate. The traps were hung on the citrus trees at a distance of 1.8 m from the ground. The distance between trees was 25 m and the traps were replicated three times per site. Results and discussion. Fruit flies identified on citrus belonged to the genera Bactrocera, Ceratitis, Dacus and Trirhithrum. While higher fruit fly diversity was observed in Edo, Ogun and Oyo states in the rainforest ecological zone, relatively higher populations of major genera (Bactrocera and Ceratitis) were recorded in Benue and Kaduna states in the Guinea savanna ecological zone. Bactrocera species occurrence increased during the second sampling period. Some farmers' cultural practices were implicated as factors likely to have contributed to fruit fly abundance and spread. Conclusion. Fruit fly species of economic importance to citrus in Nigeria belonged to the genera Ceratitis and Bactrocera species. These genera were observed in the majority of surveyed areas.Nigeria / Citrus / fruit-damaging insects / Tephritidae / Ceratitis / Bactrocera / Dacus umehi / identification / cultivation / traps Les mouches des fruits des agrumes au Nigéria : diversité des espèces, abondance relative et extension dans les principales zones productrices.Résumé --Introduction. L'attaque des agrumes par les mouches des fruits au Nigéria cause des pertes de rendement à répercussions économiques. La forte demande d'oranges douces enregistrée ces derniers temps impose de développer des stratégies de contrôle aptes à réduire les dommages imputables aux mouches des fruits et à améliorer le rendement. Cela peut être réalisé en identifiant la diversité, l'abondance et la diffusion des principales mouches des fruits des oranges douces.