Performance of Maize Storage Technologies in Benin: Fungal Ecology and Mycotoxin Contamination
Rafiatou Ba
Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Typage in Microbiology, FAST, UAC, Benin and Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Institute of Research and Experimental Medicine and Traditional Pharmacopoeia (IREMPT), Beninese Center of Scientific Research and Techniques (CBRST), Benin
Boniface Yehouenou
Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Typage in Microbiology, FAST, UAC, Benin
Ursula Houngue
Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Institute of Research and Experimental Medicine and Traditional Pharmacopoeia (IREMPT), Beninese Center of Scientific Research and Techniques (CBRST), Benin
Pascal Agbangnan
Laboratory of Study and Research in Applied Chemistry, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 P.O.Box 2009, Cotonou, Benin
Philippe Sessou
Laboratory of Study and Research in Applied Chemistry, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 P.O.Box 2009, Cotonou, Benin
Nelly M. F. Monteiro
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Laboratory of Nutrition and Food Sciences, FSA, UAC, Benin
Marcel T. Donou Hounsode
Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d’Estimations Forestières Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin
Fernand Gbaguidi
Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Institute of Research and Experimental Medicine and Traditional Pharmacopoeia (IREMPT), Beninese Center of Scientific Research and Techniques (CBRST), Benin
Lamine Baba-Moussa *
Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Typage in Microbiology, FAST, UAC, Benin
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: The present work was to study the fungal ecology of maize according to the various storage technologies and evaluate the ability of fungal isolates to produce mycotoxin.
Materials and Methods: Seven maize storage technologies (from A to G) were selected in seven agro-ecological zones and 198 samples of stored maize were collected based on storage technologies. The presence of mold was observed in all the areas prospected in all the type of technologies used. The identification of the mycotoxins produced by mildews isolated of the stored maize has been performed by Thin Layer Chromatography.
Results: Eleven (11) molds were isolated from the samples collected and three storage modes were observed. Fusarium sp, Penicillium sp and Aspergillus niger were the prevalent species with frequencies of 20.71%; 15.15% and 12.12%, respectively. Grain maize mode (55%) was the most used. Also the isolated molds have the ability to produce the toxins when the conditions are favorable. The identification of mycotoxins by Thin Layer Chromatography showed that the isolated and identified molds were producers of mycotoxins. A. parasiticus and A. flavus were not observed in technologies A and B in all the study areas. A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. ochraceus, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum and P. roqueforti showed their ability to produce Aflatoxin B2, Aflatoxin G1, Ochratoxin A, Deoxynivalenol, moniliformin and Roquefortin C, respectively.
Conclusion: These results clearly show an correlation between the technologies of storage and the contamination by the mycotoxins.
Keywords: Cereals, method of preservation, mold, CCM