Incidence of Aspergillus contamination of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

The production of groundnut is constrained by several factors, among which is Aspergillus spp. In addition to causing quantitative losses, Aspergillus spp. produce highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical substances known as aflatoxins. This study was conducted with the objectives to (i) identify Aspergillus species associated with groundnuts, (ii) determine the frequency of seed contamination, and (iii) survey agro-ecological conditions related to groundnut contamination by Aspergillus spp. About 270 groundnut samples were collected from farmers' storage, fields and local markets of three districts that is, Babile, Darolabu and Gursum of Eastern Ethiopia for mycological analysis in the year 2010. Results of the mycological analysis suggested heavy infestation of groundnut samples by various molds including Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus parasiticus and Pencillium species. At the district level, the incidence of infected groundnut kernels ranged from 50 to 80%. Within the district kernel infection varied between 36.3 and 100%. The common Aspergillus symptoms (yellowing or chlorotic leaves, wilting, drying and brown or black mass covered by yellow or greenish spores) were also observed in groundnut fields. The current results were consistent with our earlier report of heavy aflatoxin contamination of groundnut from the same places, suggesting the urgent need to apply control measures against toxigenic fungi and associated mycotoxins.

Mycoflora Associated with Groundnut Seeds Collected from Selected Groundnut Growing Districts of Telangana State, India

“…Present study also agreement with groundnut seeds collected from store house and oil mills of Warangal district were infested by different seed borne fungi varying in percentage different sample conditions and place of collection (Kalyani et al, 2014). The finding of the present study is in agreement with the findings of Abdi and Alemayehu (2014) who reported that groundnut samples collected from farmers' fields and farmers store houses in Babile and Gursum districts had 80 and 70 % kernel contamination, respectively, by Aspergillus species. Present results showed that A. flavus and A. niger were the predominant fungi of groundnut which are similar to studies conducted by Mukherjiiet al, (1992) and Naqui et al, (2013).…”

Aspergillus species and Aflatoxin Contamination of Pre and Post- Harvest Maize Grain in West Gojam, Ethiopia

“…These observations all the above species were consistent with the findings of [15][16][17]. Aspergillus flavus is the main fungal species infecting maize grains.…”

“…Isolates were identified to a species level based on morphological (phenotypic) features as described by Abdi et al, Negero et al and Cotty et al [15][16][17]. For this purpose: Isolates representing each pure culture were grown on PDA at 25°C for 5-7 days.…”

Stakeholders’ perception about aflatoxin contamination in groundnut (arachis hypogaea L.) along the value chain actors in eastern Ethiopia

“…Aflatoxin contamination of groundnut could occur before harvest while the crop is at maturing stage in the field, particularly favored by drought stress and high soil temperature, in storage and during marketing (CAST, 2003;Mutegi et al, 2009;Abdi and Alemayehu 2014). It can occur on pods and seeds in the soil near harvest, during harvest, and post-harvest in storage.…”