Impact of indigenous storage systems and insect infestation on the contamination of maize with fumonisins

Four storage systems of maize commonly used by farmers in Benin, West Africa, were tested to determine their impact on infection of maize by Fusarium and subsequent contamination with fumonisins. The study showed that Fusarium incidence was significantly higher when maize was stored on a cemented floor in a house, a non ventilated facility (40.3 ± 17.4%), than in the other tested systems (p < 0.05). The lowest Fusarium incidence was recorded when maize was stored in a bamboo granary that is a ventilated facility (25.5 ± 13.5%) (p < 0.05). All maize samples from the tested storage systems were found to be fumonisin positive, with levels ranging from 0.6 to 2.4 mg/kg. Fumonisin level, overall, was found to decrease over the storage period, but not significantly in all the tested storage systems. Damage by lepidopterous pests was significantly and positively correlated with both infection of maize with Fusarium and contamination by fumonisin. In contrary, damage by coleopterous insects was significantly and negatively correlated with infection of maize with Fusarium and contamination by fumonisin. Avoiding the use of non-ventilated systems to store maize and reducing insect infestation in field and during storage are very important recommendations for farmers.Keywords: Maize, storage systems, Fusarium, fumonisins, insect infestatio

Environmentalism in the EU-28 context: the impact of governance quality on environmental energy efficiency

Environmental policies are a significant cornerstone of a developed economy, but the question that arises is whether such policies lead to a sustainable growth path. It is clear that the energy sector plays a pivotal role in environmental policies, and although the current literature has focused on examining the link between energy consumption and economic growth through an abundance of studies, it does not explicitly consider the role of institutional or governance quality variables in the process. Both globalization and democracy are important drivers of sustainability, while environmentalism is essential for the objective of gaining a “better world.” Governance quality is expected to be the key, not only for economic purposes but also for the efficiency of environmental policies. To that end, the analysis in this paper explores the link between governance quality and energy efficiency for the EU-28 countries, spanning the period 1995 to 2014. The findings document that there is a nexus between energy efficiency and income they move together: the most efficient countries are in the group with higher GDP per capita. Furthermore, the results show that governance quality is an important driver of energy efficiency and, hence, of environmental policies.University of Granad

Conservation des extraits aqueux de feuilles de neem, d\u2019hyptis et de papayer et 189 efficacite contre les ravageurs du niebe au Benin

Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is one of the leguminous crops, widely consumed in West Africa, but its production is constrained by pests and diseases. The use of natural plant extracts or vegetable leaf powder has been effectively used against cowpea pests. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of selected natural plant extracts obtained using two extraction methods (mortar pumping + filtration and motorised extractor composed of grinder and press) and their effectiveness on cowpea crops. The plants included neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss), papaya ( Carica papaya L.) and hyptis ( Hyptis suaveolens ). The extracts were stabilised with alcohol (70 \ub0C), lemon juice and essential oils ( Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum graticimum ). Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizopus spp. and Nigrospora spp. were identified on the first day of extraction in the leaf extracts regardless of the plant and extraction method. After 1 to 2 months of extract preservation, most fungi initially identified reduced or were absent in the extracts regardless of plant species and method of extraction. However, the inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts with or without conservatives was less for Penicillium spp. and Rhizopus spp. The aqueous extracts were more effective against cowpea pests after 45 days and 6 months of preservation compared to one day extracts. The aqueous leaf extracts can be preserved for a long time without affecting their effectiveness against pests of cowpea.Le ni\ue9b\ue9 ( Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) est une des l\ue9gumineuses largement consomm\ue9es en Afrique de l\u2019Ouest mais sa culture est sujette aux attaques par les insectes et des maladies. L\u2019utilisation des extraits de plantes naturelles ou de poudre de feuilles v\ue9g\ue9tales est efficace pour le traitement des ravageurs du ni\ue9b\ue9. Dans cette \ue9tude, des tests de stabilisation des extraits aqueux de feuilles telles que le neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss), le papayer ( Carica papaya L.) et l\u2019hyptis ( Hyptis suav\ue9olens ), obtenus de deux m\ue9thodes d\u2019extraction (pilage au mortier + filtration et extracteur motoris\ue9 compos\ue9 de broyeur et de presse) en vue de leur conservation durable ont \ue9t\ue9 r\ue9alis\ue9s et leur \ue9fficacit\ue9 test\ue9e sur les cultures de ni\ue9b\ue9. Les extraits ont \ue9t\ue9 stabilis\ue9s avec de l\u2019alcool (70 \ub0C), du jus de citron et des huiles essentielles\ua0( Ocimum basilicum et Ocimum graticimum ). Les genres de champignons Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizopus spp. et Nigrospora spp. ont \ue9t\ue9 identifi\ue9s au premier jour de l\u2019extraction dans les extraits quelles que soient la feuille et la m\ue9thode d\u2019extraction utilis\ue9es. Apr\ue8s 1 et 2 mois de conservation des extraits, la plupart des genres de moisissures recens\ue9s au d\ue9but ont \ue9t\ue9 r\ue9duits voire absents dans les extraits quelles que soient la feuille et la m\ue9thode d\u2019extraction utilis\ue9es. Cependant, l\u2019effet inhibiteur des extraits de neem et d\u2019hyptis avec ou sans conservateurs a \ue9t\ue9 moins rapide sur P\ue9nicillium spp. et Rhizopus spp. au cours de la conservation que sur les autres genres identifi\ue9s. Les extraits aqueux conserv\ue9s pendant 45 jours et 6 mois ont \ue9t\ue9 efficaces pour le traitement des plants de ni\ue9b\ue9 par rapport \ue0 l\u2019extrait du jour. La conservation des extraits aqueux n\u2019affecte pas leur efficacit\ue9 pour le traitement des ravageurs du ni\ue9b\ue9

Full Length Research Paper - Impact of indigenous storage systems and insect infestation on the contamination of maize with fumonisins

Four storage systems of maize commonly used by farmers in Benin, West Africa, were tested to determine their impact on infection of maize by Fusarium and subsequent contamination with fumonisins. The study showed that Fusarium incidence was significantly higher when maize was stored on a cemented floor in a house, a non ventilated facility (40.3 ± 17.4%), than in the other tested systems (p < 0.05). The lowest Fusarium incidence was recorded when maize was stored in a bamboo granary that is a ventilated facility (25.5±13.5%) (p < 0.05). All maize samples from the tested storage systems were found to be fumonisin-positive, with levels ranging from 0.6 to 2.4 mg/kg. Fumonisin level, overall, was found to decrease over the storage period, but not significantly in all the tested storage systems. Damage by lepidopterous pests was significantly and positively correlated with both infection of maize with Fusarium and contamination by fumonisin. In contrary, damage by coleopterous insects was significantly and negatively correlated with infection of maize with Fusarium and contamination by fumonisin. Avoiding the use of non-ventilated systems to store maize and reducing insect infestation in field and during storage are very important recommendations for farmers

Mycobiota and identification of aflatoxin gene cluster in marketed spices in West Africa

Fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination was evaluated on 114 samples of dried and milled spices such as ginger, garlic and black pepper from southern Benin and Togo collected in November 2008-January 2009. These products are dried to preserve them for lean periods available throughout the year. Fungal contamination was evaluated after plating on selective media with a total of 20 fungal genera identified, ranging from 7 in garlic to 14 in ginger. Ginger and pepper showed high incidence of fungal contamination compared to garlic that had lower levels of fungal contamination. Species of Aspergillus were dominant on all marketed dried and milled spices irrespective of country. Gene characterization and amplification analysis showed that most of the A. flavus isolates possesses the cluster genes for aflatoxin production. Aflatoxin B1 assessment by Thin Layer Chromatography showed that only garlic (1 sample) and ginger (4 samples) were naturally contaminated with aflatoxin B1 ranging from 390 μg/kg to 1045 μg/kg respectively. Previous reports have mostly highlighted the risk of mycotoxin exposure from staple crops and vegetables in Africa, but such risks now need to be evaluated further for other products such as dried and milled spices

Analysis of the contrast between natural occurrence of toxigenic Aspergilli of the Flavi section and aflatoxin B1 in cassava

International audienceAflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by Aspergilli of the section Flavi that may contaminate food, in the field or during storage. Cassava represents an important staple food in sub-Saharan Africa. The analysis of aflatoxigenic fungi in 36 cassava samples obtained from producers in Benin indicated that 40% were contaminated by Aspergilli of the section Flavi. Upon morphological and molecular characterization of the 20 isolates, 16 belonged to Aspergillus flavus, 2 to Aspergillus parvisclerotigenus and 2 to Aspergillus novoparasiticus. This is the first time that this latter species is isolated from food. Although most of these isolates were toxigenic on synthetic media, no AFB1 contamination was observed in these cassava samples. In order to determine the action of cassava on AFB1 synthesis, a highly toxigenic strain of A. flavus, was inoculated onto fresh cassava and despite a rapid development, no AFB1 was produced. The anti-aflatoxin property was observed with cassava from different geographical origins and on other aflatoxigenic strains of the section Flavi, but it was lost after heating, sun drying and freezing. Our data suggest that fresh cassava is safe regarding AFB1 contamination, however, processing may alter its ability to block toxinogenesis leading to secondary contamination. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

A comprehensive study to explore differences in mycotoxin patterns from agro-ecological regions through maize, peanut, and cassava products: a case study, Cameroon

A total of 420 samples were collected from agrarian households. Whereas 51% (215/420) of the samples were contaminated with one or more toxins, the contamination rates for maize, peanut, and cassava products were 74, 62, and 24%, respectively. The fumonisins (20-5412 mu g/kg), aflatoxin B-1 (6-645 mu g/kg), roquefortine C (1-181 mu g/kg), and deoxynivalenol (27-3842 mu g/kg) were the most prevalent contaminants in maize. For peanut samples, aflatoxin B-1 (6-125 mu g/kg) and ochratoxin A (0.3-12 mu g/kg) were the main contaminants, whereas aflatoxin B-1 (6-194 mu g/kg) and penicillic acid (25-184 mu g/kg) were detected in the cassava products. Exposures calculated through maize intake for fumonisin B-1 and aflatoxin B-1 were several-fold higher (2-5 for fumonisin B-1 and 10(4)-10(5) for aflatoxin B-1) than the health-based guidance values of 2 mu g/kg bw/day and 0.15 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The study design constitutes a good model that can be implemented in other sub-Saharan African countries