Evaluation of hermetic technologies in the control of insect infestation and mycotoxin contamination in stored maize grains

Vortrag

Autor/innen

  • Jacqueline Namusalisi Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625 Kangemi, Kenya
  • Catherine N. Kunyanga Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625 Kangemi, Kenya
  • Anani Bruce International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), P.O Box 1041-00621 United Nations Avenue, Nairobi – Kenya
  • Hugo De Groote International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), P.O Box 1041-00621 United Nations Avenue, Nairobi – Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5073/jka.2018.463.122

Schlagworte:

insect infestation, mycotoxin contamination, stored maize, hermetic storage, food security

Abstract

Grain losses due to moulds during on-farm storage increase food insecurity, result in economic losses, negatively affect farmers’ livelihoods, and increase exposure to mycotoxins that can harm human and animal health. Hermetic storage technologies provide a reliable solution for maize grain that may also preserve food safety. Several studies report the effectiveness of these technologies against post-harvest insects in Africa but provide limited evidence on effectiveness against mould proliferation and mycotoxin contamination. Hermetic technologies were superior to farmer practice in reducing insect infestations and mycotoxin accumulation. Among hermetic technologies, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) in performance between metal silos and hermetic bags for mycotoxin accumulation and insect infestation regardless of the mode of infestation. In non-inoculated grain, fungal populations were varied but included mycotoxin-producing Aspergillus and Fusarium spp., indicating that the grain was naturally contaminated and acted as a good reservoir for these fungi. Mycotoxin levels increased with higher moisture even in non-inoculated grain. Meanwhile, aflatoxin and fumonisin levels at 4 months were not significantly different from baseline values in dry inoculated grain across all storage technologies (P>0.05), indicating that hermetic technologies can prevent mycotoxin contamination in dry grain for at least 4 months of storage. Aflatoxin and fumonisin were significantly higher by 1.69 ppb and 0.25 ppm respectively in non-inoculated grains at high moisture indicating the need to adequately dry grain before storage in hermetic technologies. This trend was observed collectively in all the technologies registering 2.03 ppb and 0.311 ppm respectively. In inoculated grains at high moisture, there was an increase in aflatoxin in both hermetic treatments and the control by 5.7 ppb and 12.14 ppb respectively. Therefore, a trial was conducted to compare hermetic technologies with farmer practice in their effectiveness against both insect infestation and mycotoxin contamination.

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Veröffentlicht

2018-10-29