Identification of characteristic zooplankton species in the Kinyankonge River basin, Burundi

The objective of this study is to determine the zooplankton species that characterize the Kinyankonge River basin in Burundi. Thus, zooplankton was sampled monthly over a period of 18 months (from July 2015 to June 2016, then from January 2017 to June 2017) at seven stations. The Indicator Value (IndVal) of the identified zooplankton species and the coverage of stations were determined. The results showed that three species characterized significantly the most upstream station whereas the water of the irrigation channel was characterized by 4 species. The waters of the Nyabagere tributary and the wastewater treatment plant are characterized by 1 and 5 species, respectively. Furthermore, the dry season was characterized by 4 singletons and 13 pairs of species, while the rainy season was characterized by 11 pairs of species. Moreover, the group of upstream stations was characterized by 5 species while 3 species characterized the group of downstream stations. These species highlighted by the indicator value method can be used to characterize stations in the Kinyankonge River and provide information on seasonal changes

Perception des producteurs et impact des facteurs socio-économiques sur la connaissance des mycotoxines du maïs en stockage au Bénin

Au Bénin, plusieurs technologies sont utilisées pour la conservation du maïs. Ces technologies utilisées ne contrôlent pas toujours les pertes fongiques enregistrées. L’objectif de l’étude est d’évaluer l’impact des facteurs socio-économiques des producteurs sur les technologies de prévention des pertes fongiques et leur niveau de connaissance des mycotoxines du maïs en stockage. Pour ce faire, une enquête a été réalisée dans sept zones agro-écologiques du Bénin. Au total, sept technologies de stockages du maïs ont été inventoriées (de A à G). La technologie B est non seulement présente dans toutes les zones parcourues mais aussi, elle est fortement représentée dans les zones III, IV et VIII avec des proportions respectives de 51,33%; 62,86% et 69,83%. La population agricole ayant un niveau secondaire (27%) et les alphabétisés (15%) ont la chance de connaître les mycotoxines. Les enquêtés (100%) ne connaissent pas le danger lié à la consommation du maïs contaminé et n’ont jamais reçu une formation sur les mycotoxines. L’observation de la couleur verte (61% des enquêtés) et la couleur noire (28% des enquêtés) témoigne bien de la persistance des mycotoxines dans le maïs en stock au Bénin.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Technologie, conservation, céréales, contamination, moisissuresEnglish Title: Perception of maize producers in Benin and impact of the socio-economic factors on the knowledge of the mycotoxins of maize in storageEnglish AbstractIn Benin, various technologies are used for the conservation of the maize. Those technologies don't often control the recorded fungal losses. The objective of the study is to value the impact of the socioeconomic factors of producers on technologies of fungal loss prevention and their level of knowledge of mycotoxins of the maize in storage. A survey has been achieved in seven agro - ecological zones of Benin. Thus, a total of seven maize storage technologies were inventoried (A to G). The use of technology B is not only apparent in all the zones covered but it is also significantly used in zones III, IV and VIII in the respective proportions of51.33%; 62.86% and 69.83%. The agricultural population, i.e. those with secondary education (27%) and the literates (15%) happen to have some knowledge about mycotoxins. People investigated (100%) do not have knowledge of the danger associated with the consumption of contaminated maize and have never received training on mycotoxins. The observation of a green colour (by 61% of respondents) and black colour (by 28% of respondents) is testimony to the persistence of mycotoxins in maize under storage in Benin.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Technology, conservation, cereals, contamination, mould

Maize Fungal Growth Control with Scopoletin of Cassava Roots Produced in Benin

The chemical contamination of food is among the main public health issues in developing countries. With a view to find new natural bioactive products against fungi responsible for chemical contamination of staple food such as maize, the antifungal activity tests of scopoletin extracted from different components of the cassava root produced in Benin were carried out. The dosage of scopoletin from parts of the root (first skin, second skin, whole root, and flesh) was done by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The scopoletin extract was used to assess the activity of 12 strains (11 strains of maize and a reference strain). The presence of scopoletin was revealed in all components of the cassava root. Scopoletin extracted from the first skin cassava root was the most active both as inhibition of sporulation (52.29 to 87.91%) and the mycelial growth (36.51–80.41%). Scopoletin extract from the cassava root skins showed significant inhibitory activity on the tested strains with fungicide concentration (MFC) between 0.0125 mg/mL and 0.1 mg/mL. The antifungal scopoletin extracted from the cassava root skins may be well beneficial for the fungal control of the storage of maize

Ecological consequences of anthropogenic pressure in Wari-Maro Forest Reserve (Benin, West Africa)

This study assessed ecological consequences of anthropogenic pressure on Wari-Maro Forest Reserve (WMFR). The dynamics of forest cover has been assessed using a diachronic analysis of land cover maps from the Landsat satellite images of 1986, 1995 and 2006. Structural patterns of the forest has been described using forest inventory data with twenty five 1ha plots having two 50 m x 30 m plots set up inside and positioned at the opposite corners of the leading diagonal within each 1 ha plot. Established plots allowed identifying the most targeted species in illegal logging. Plots of 0.15 ha established inside each 1 ha plot helped assessing the volume of trees from which we derived carbon stock and carbon loss using conversion and expansion factors. For the two periods 1986 to 1995 and 1995 to 2006, there was a decline in forest cover which slowed down in the second decade (0.196 %.year-1 and 0.083 %.year-1 respectively). The two vegetation types of the WMFR were mainly distinguished by Lorey's mean height (12.81 m in woodland and 12.44 m in tree-savannah). Top five targeted species in illegal logging activities were: Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir., Afzelia africana Sm., Isoberlinia spp., Anogeissus leiocarpa Guill. and Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch. & Dalziel. Results also showed mean values of carbon stock and carbon losses for the whole forest of 147.84 tons C.ha-1 and 17.57 tons C.ha-1 respectively and did not depend on vegetation type. Results from this study suggest that management strategies should focus on selectively logged species. Monitoring should also be enhanced to ensure conservation of resources of the reserve which are at high risks of extinction due to selective logging rates. Keywords: anthropogenic pressure, forest cover, structure, carbon stock, Wari-Maro forest reserve, Benin