Prevalence of Aflatoxin Contamination in Maize and Groundnut in Ghana: Population Structure, Distribution, and Toxigenicity of the Causal Agents

• DOI: 10.1094/pdis-05-17-0749-re
• Publication Date: 2017-10-17T19:29:38Z
• Authors: D. Agbetiameh; A. Ortega-Beltran; R. T. Awuah; J. Atehnkeng; P. J. Cotty; R. Bandyopadhyay
• Keywords: Aspergillus parasiticus

Aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut is perennial Ghana with substantial health economic burden on the population. The present study examined for first time prevalence of aflatoxin major producing regions across three agroecological zones (AEZs) Ghana. Furthermore, distribution aflatoxin-producing potential Aspergillus species associated both crops were studied. Out 509 samples (326 183 groundnut), 35% had detectable levels aflatoxins. Over 15% 11% exceeded threshold limits set by Standards Authority 15 20 ppb, respectively. Mycoflora analyses revealed various morphotypes within section Flavi. A total 5,083 isolates recovered from crops. L morphotype flavus dominated communities 93.3% population, followed spp. S (6%), A. tamarii (0.4%), parasiticus (0.3%). Within morphotype, proportion toxigenic members was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that atoxigenic AEZs. Observed concentrations indicate on-field management strategies need to be implemented throughout fungi are genetic resources can employed as biocontrol agents limit [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2018 Author(s). This an open access article distributed under CC BY 4.0 International license .