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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development
Rural Outreach Program
ISSN: 1684-5358 EISSN: 1684-5358
Vol. 18, No. 1, 2018, pp. 13186-13201
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Bioline Code: nd18022
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2018, pp. 13186-13201
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ASSOCIATION OF FARMERS’ SORGHUM GRAIN POSTHARVEST HANDLING PRACTICES WITH AFLATOXIN B1 AND TOTAL FUMONISIN CONTAMINATION IN EAST HARARGHE, ETHIOPIA
Wondimeneh, T; Amare, A; Mashilla, D & Alemayehu, C
Abstract
Improper farmers’ postharvest handling practices of sorghum grain coupled with adverse
climatic conditions are conducive for fungal growth and toxin production. The objective
of the present study was to investigate the association of farmers' sorghum grain
postharvest handling practices with aflatoxin B1 and total fumonisin contamination in
three districts (Babile, Haramaya and Kersa) of East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia. A total of
90 sorghum grain samples were collected in two phases. Half of the total samples were
collected from the threshing yards at the time of threshing and the other half of samples
were collected from underground storage pits 5 - 6 months after storage in the year
2013/14. Quantification of the mycotoxins was done using enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Farmers threshed their sorghum grain either on bare
ground, on cow dung smeared ground or on canvas while the underground storage pits
were differently managed in all the three study districts. Variation in mycotoxin
contamination levels were evidenced from sorghum grain threshed on different grounds.
The highest mean (8.52 μg kg-1 grain) aflatoxin B1 and mean total fumonisin (1085.1 μg
kg-1 grain) were detected from Babile sorghum grain samples threshed on bare ground.
The highest total fumonisin (2002.8 μg kg-1grain) was detected from Haramaya sorghum
grain samples threshed on bare ground close to the farmers’ sorghum fields. The
variation was also observed in sorghum grain samples collected from the underground
storage pits. High levels of aflatoxin B1 and total fumonisin were recorded from sorghum
grain samples collected from bare underground storage pits in all the three study districts.
Use of bare underground storage pits for sorghum grain storage showed a high risk of
mycotoxin contamination. The findings of this study call for intervention strategies to be
implemented by subsistence farmers to reduce the contamination by aflatoxin B1 and
total fumonisin.
Keywords
Aflatoxin; ELISA; Fumonisin; Grain; Mycotoxins; Postharvest; Sorghum; Toxin
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