2 research outputs found
EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY STATUS OF AFRICAN NIGHTSHADE SEED PRODUCED BY FARMERS IN KENYA
Seed as an important input in crop production should be of high quality, pathogen free, have desired germination and emergence. This study was carried out to evaluate the quality status of African nightshade (Solanum scabrum and S. villosum Miller) seed produced by farmers in Kenya. A household survey was carried out in 240 farms using a structured questionnaire and a total of 164 samples of farm saved, market and certified seeds were obtained during this survey. Seed samples were tested in the laboratory at the University of Nairobi and Pearson’s correlation between seed quality and germination parameters was done. The analysis showed that majority of farmers use farm saved (50%) or seed purchased from the local markets (28%) which have low purity and germination rates. The farm, market and certified seed differed (p<0.05) significantly with regard to seed purity, moisture content, seedling vigor index and germination percentage. Farm saved and market seed had low seed purity 68.6% and 74% respectively, compared to certified seed 94.4%. In addition, only certified seed met the recommended moisture and germination percentage as per the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) standards. There were significant (p≤ 0.05 and p≤0.01) positive correlation comparing seed quality and germination parameters, for example seed purity had significant positive correlation (r=0.76**) with germination percentage. This study affirms that the use of clean seed increases germination percentage of crops
Household dietary exposure to aflatoxins from maize and maize products in Kenya
Aflatoxicosis has repeatedly affected Kenyans, particularly in the eastern region, due to consumption of contaminated
maize. However, save for the cases of acute toxicity, the levels of sub-lethal exposure have not been adequately assessed. It
is believed that this type of exposure does exist even during the seasons when acute toxicity does not occur. This study,
therefore, was designed to assess the exposure of households to aflatoxins through consumption of maize and maize
products. Twenty samples each of maize kernels, muthokoi and maize meal were randomly sampled from households in
Kibwezi District of Makueni County in Eastern Kenya and analysed for aflatoxin contamination. The samples were
quantitatively analysed for aflatoxin contamination using HPLC. The uncertainty and variability in dietary exposure was
quantitatively modelled in Ms Excel using Monte Carlo simulation in @Risk software. Aflatoxins were found in 45% of
maize kernels at between 18 and 480 μg kg–1, 20% of muthokoi at between 12 and 123 μg kg–1, and 35% of maize meal at
between 6 and 30 μg kg–1. The mean dietary exposure to aflatoxin in maize kernels was 292 ± 1567 ng kg−1 body weight
day−1, while the mean dietary exposure to aflatoxin in maize meal and muthokoi were 59 ± 62 and 27 ± 154 ng kg−1 body
weight day−1 respectively. The results showed that the amount and frequency of consumption of the three foods is the more
important contributing factor than the mean aflatoxin concentration levels, to the risk of dietary exposure to aflatoxins.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tfac202016-05-30hb201