Pesticides and food safety in Africa

African countries have experienced nonconformance in the levels of pesticides for local consumption and export. Sometimes this leads to rejects and other forms of embarrassment from the importing countries. Economic challenge and lack of awareness heighten the overall cost of interventions in pesticide-related food safety management. For example, not a few of the infractions were a result of incorrect ways of pesticide application. The hazard accompanying chemical pesticide application has left open a window of biological alternatives which this review article seems to explore. The bio-alternatives, including green pesticides cancel out the adverse effect of residual chemicals on crops in farm and store and so make it more attractive. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.123754

Climate change and mycotoxins - The African experience

The role of climate change on mycotoxin profile and activity was reviewed. The unprecedented spread and relocation experienced by some regulated mycotoxins on food and feed items were investigated. Aspergillus species and aflatoxin, originally associated with tropical and subtropical climate characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa are now comfortable guests in temperate zones. The same applies to Fusarium and Penicilium species, earlier thought to be strictly specific to temperate regions of Europe, now encountered in tropical Africa, with their toxins like zearalenone and trichothecenes, particularly in recent surveillance studies. This review is an update on the unstable trend on a global mycotoxin map with reference to the obvious climatic dynamics, having Africa in view

Pesticides and food safety in Africa

African countries have experienced nonconformance in the levels of pesticides for local consumption and export. Sometimes this leads to rejects and other forms of embarrassment from the importing countries. Economic challenge and lack of awareness heighten the overall cost of interventions in pesticide-related food safety management. For example, not a few of the infractions were a result of incorrect ways of pesticide application. The hazard accompanying chemical pesticide application has left open a window of biological alternatives which this review article seems to explore. The bio-alternatives, including green pesticides cancel out the adverse effect of residual chemicals on crops in farm and store and so make it more attractive. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.123754

Cucurbitaceae - the family that nourishes and heals

A review of the activities of members of the Cucurbitaceae was carried out. Many of them are confirmed nutritious and therapeutical. Their global spread, diverse genera and phytochemical profile further confirm them as an attraction for the growth and survival of humanity. The need for alternative control measures to address resistance has heightened the passion for Cucurbitaceae in bioprospecting. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.143679

Studies on stored cereal degradation by Alternaria tenuissima

Se estudió la habilidad de una cepa de Alternaria tenuissima Kunze (IMI 301005) Wiltshire de degradar y alterar el perfil de nutrientes de tres cereales nigerianos comunes. Los granos seleccionados fueron Pennisetum glaucum, Sorghum vulgare y Oryza sativa. Las grasas, fibras y proteínas disminuyeron en los sustratos inoculados, hecho acompañado de un incremento en el contenido de ceniza. Los niveles más altos de degradación de cereal por el hongo (moho) se obtuvieron en cultivos con pH de 6.8 en un intervalo de temperatura de 30-35 oC. A partir de las 48 horas de incubación se detectaron proteasas extracelulares en todos los medios de cultivo.The ability of a strain of Alternaria tenuissima Kunze (IMI 301005) Wiltshire to degrade and alter the nutrient profile of three common Nigerian cereals was studied. The grains involved were Pennisetum glaucum, Sorghum vulgare and Oryza sativa. Fat, fibre and protein decreased in the inoculated substrates, and this was accompanied by an increase in ash content. The highest levels of cereal degradation by the mould were attained at pH 6.8 and at temperature range of 30-35 oC. Within 48 hours of incubation, extracellular proteases were detected in all the culture media

Studies on stored cereal degradation by Alternaria tenuissima

Se estudió la habilidad de una cepa de Alternaria tenuissima Kunze (IMI 301005) Wiltshire de degradar y alterar el perfil de nutrientes de tres cereales nigerianos comunes. Los granos seleccionados fueron Pennisetum glaucum, Sorghum vulgare y Oryza sativa. Las grasas, fibras y proteínas disminuyeron en los sustratos inoculados, hecho acompañado de un incremento en el contenido de ceniza. Los niveles más altos de degradación de cereal por el hongo (moho) se obtuvieron en cultivos con pH de 6.8 en un intervalo de temperatura de 30-35 oC. A partir de las 48 horas de incubación se detectaron proteasas extracelulares en todos los medios de cultivo.The ability of a strain of Alternaria tenuissima Kunze (IMI 301005) Wiltshire to degrade and alter the nutrient profile of three common Nigerian cereals was studied. The grains involved were Pennisetum glaucum, Sorghum vulgare and Oryza sativa. Fat, fibre and protein decreased in the inoculated substrates, and this was accompanied by an increase in ash content. The highest levels of cereal degradation by the mould were attained at pH 6.8 and at temperature range of 30-35 oC. Within 48 hours of incubation, extracellular proteases were detected in all the culture media

Profile of major and emerging mycotoxins in sesame and soybean grains in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

The spectrum of major and emerging mycotoxins in sesame and soybean grains from the six zones of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria was determined using Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 47 samples (24 sesame and 23 soybean were collected from farmers’ stores. Seven regulated mycotoxins in sesame and five in soybean including aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin B2 (AFB2) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) were detected. However, concentrations were generally lower than regulatory limits set in the EU for raw grains with the exception of ochratoxin A (OTA) exhibiting a maximum concentration level of 23.1 µg kg-1 in one of the soybean samples. This is the first report concerning the contamination of sesame and soybean in Abuja, FCT-Nigeria with the emerging mycotoxins addressed by recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion papers totalling 10 in number. These include beauvericin (BEA), moniliformin (MON), sterigmatocystin (STE), altertoxin-I (ATX-I), alternariol (AOH), alternariol methylether (AME) though at relatively low µg kg-1 range. This preliminary data indicate that sesame and soybean might be relatively safe commodities in view of the profile of mycotoxins. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.130718

Multilocus molecular characterization of a Penicillium strain isolated from maize in Nigeria

[Excerpt] Aims: Access the phylogeny of Penicillium strain (MUM 14.07) within the P. sclerotiorum complex and the relationship with P. mallochii. [...

Studies on Stored cereal degradation by AlternAriA tenuissima

the ability of a strain of Alternaria tenuissima Kunze (IiMIi 301005) Wiltshire to degrade and alter the nutrient profile of three common Nigerian cereals was studied. The grains involved were Pennisetum glaucum, Ssorghum vulgare and Oryza sativa. Fat, fibre and protein decreased in the inoculated substrates, and this was accompanied by an increase in ash content. The highest levels of cereal degradation by the mould were attained at pH 6.8 and at temperature range of 30-35 oC. Within 48 hours of incubation, extracellular proteases were detected in all the culture media.Se estudió la habilidad de una cepa de Alternaria tenuissima Kunze (301005) Wiltshire de degradar y alterar el perfil de nutrientes de tres cereales nigerianos comunes. Llos granos seleccionados fueron Pennisetum glaucum, vulgare y Oryza sativa. Las grasas, fibras y proteínas disminuyeron en los sustratos inoculados, hecho acompañado de un incremento en el contenido de ceniza. niveles más altos de degradación de cereal por el hongo (moho) se obtuvieron en cultivos con pH de 6.8 en un intervalo de temperatura de 30-35 oC. A partir de las 48 horas de incubación se detectaron proteasas extracelulares en todos los medios de cultivo