Morphological diversity among local and introduced maize (Zea mays L.) varieties in Haiti for yield improvement

Maize, the cereal with the largest production in the world, is a staple crop in many developing countries including Haiti. Even if Haiti is the second maize consumer in the Caribbean region, its national yield is low and alleged of aflatoxin contamination. In order to increase grain yield, three introduced and two local maize varieties (these used as comparative control) were evaluated. Three field trials were carried out at Torbeck and Morne Briller (Port-Salut) during different growing seasons. Experiments were designed in a three-replicate randomized block. Each experimental plot was 3.50 m per 10.5 m with a gross area of 36.75 m2 and 40 000 plants/ha densities. The trials were carried out according to local agricultural practices. The results revealed that the introduced varieties had a smaller yield than the local ones. Moreover, all varieties showed some aflatoxin content below the European Union limit (5\u3bcg/Kg). Statistical analyses showed a strong and direct correlation between yield and ear weight and an inverse correlation between yield and male and female flowering day after sowing. The broad phenotypic diversity suggested a rich reserve of alleles to exploit in a breeding program focused to improve food security in Haiti

Fungal contamination and aflatoxin content of maize, moringa and peanut foods from rural subsistence farms in South Haiti

Mycotoxins are toxic, low molecular weight compounds produced by fungi. Among them, aflatoxins are the most carcinogenic and they mainly impact on rural communities of developing countries. The present study supplies data on mycobiota and aflatoxin contamination in the most common food products consumed in Haiti. The study concerns analyses performed on 49 samples of meals and seeds collected in South Haiti and tested for fungal occurrence and aflatoxin content by HPLC-DAD technique. The results revealed that three main fungal genera affected Haitian food products: Aspergillus spp. (Section Flavi and Nigri), followed by Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp. Aflatoxin was present in more than half of the samples of maize (Zea mays L.) kernels (55%), maize meal (57%) and moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) seeds (64%), and in 25% of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) samples. The tested food products were mostly contaminated by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) followed by aflatoxin B2 (AFB2), while no aflatoxins type G were detected. The total concentration of aflatoxins in the positive samples was 228 mg/kg on average, i.e., fifty-seven and eleven times higher than the maximum levels allowed in Europe and USA, respectively. Both the presence of aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin contamination in maize kernels seemed to be related to agricultural practices, such as weed control, irrigation and growing cycle length. These findings suggest that the Haitian population is strongly exposed to aflatoxin risk. This risk could be reduced by exploiting simple and accessible farming strategies for minimizing mycotoxin contamination, at least for maize

Evaluation des paramètres productifs et quantification d’aflatoxine de sept variétés de maïs (Zea mays L.) testées en Haïti

Maize is the second most consumed cereal in Haiti after rice. Even so national maize yield is low (0.84 t/ha) with high aflatoxin (AF) risk exposure. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the yield parameters of seven maize varieties tested in a participative approach at Torbeck plain and quantify the aflatoxin content. Two maize varieties are from University of Milan (UNIMI), two from Agriculture College of University Notre Dame of Haiti (UNDH), and the other three, from local farmers of Torbeck. Results revealed that maximal (4.36 t/ha) and minimal (3.14 t/ha) maize grain yield were noted for Tilevy, provided by local farmers and for R4865, from UNIMI (p<0.05), respectively. The maximal correlation was found between maize grain yield and mass of 100 grains (\u3c1= 0.485) followed by the correlation with the number of grains per row (\u3c1= 0.477). AF contamination of tested materials varied from Comayagua (Max: 7.6; average: 5.6\ub11.8 ppb) to Maquina (Max: 151; average: 79.65\ub172.56 ppb). The material R4865, provided by UNIMI showed AF concentration < 20 ppb fixed by US Food and Drugs Administration limits. Therefore, R4865 from UNIMI could be used as the donor of pollen to Tilevy in programs with aim to produce large maize grain quality in Haiti.Le ma\uefs est la deuxi\ue8me c\ue9r\ue9ale la plus consomm\ue9e en Ha\uefti apr\ue8s le riz. Mais, le rendement (Rdt)national reste faible avec de risque \ue9lev\ue9 de contamination d\u2019aflatoxines (AF). L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude est d\u2019\ue9valuer les param\ue8tres productifs de 7 vari\ue9t\ue9s de ma\uefs test\ue9es dans une approche participative \ue0 Torbeck et quantifier les AF. Deux des vari\ue9t\ue9s proviennent de l\u2019Universit\ue9 des Etudes de Milan (UNIMI), 2 de la Facult\ue9 d\u2019Agronomie de l\u2019Universit\ue9 Notre Dame d\u2019Ha\uefti et les 3 autres aupr\ue8s des planteurs de Torbeck. Les r\ue9sultats ont r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que les Rdt maximal (4,36 t/ha) et minimal (3,14 t/ha) ont \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9tect\ue9s sur Tilevy, fournie par les producteurs et R4865, provenant d\u2019UNIMI (p<0,05). La corr\ue9lation maximale du Rdt a \ue9t\ue9 not\ue9e avec la masse des 100 grains (\u3c1=0,485) suivie du nombre grains par rang (\u3c1=0,477). Les concentrations d\u2019AF varient de Comayagua (Max : 7,6 ; moyenne : 5,6\ub11,8 ppb) \ue0 Maquina (Max : 151 ; moyenne : 79,65\ub172,56 ppb). R4865 provenant d\u2019UNIMI a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 des taux d\u2019AF < 20 ppb, fix\ue9 par la l\ue9gislation am\ue9ricaine. Ainsi, la vari\ue9t\ue9 R4865 d\u2019UNIMI peut \ueatre donneuse de pollen \ue0 Tilevy dans des programmes ayant pour but de produire de grandes quantit\ue9s de grains de qualit\ue9 en Ha\uefti

Cultivation, genetic, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Moringa oleifera leaves: an overview

Moringa oleifera is an interesting plant for its use in bioactive compounds. In this manuscript, we review studies concerning the cultivation and production of moringa along with genetic diversity among different accessions and populations. Different methods of propagation, establishment and cultivation are discussed. Moringa oleifera shows diversity in many characters and extensive morphological variability, which may provide a resource for its improvement. Great genetic variability is present in the natural and cultivated accessions, but no collection of cultivated and wild accessions currently exists. A germplasm bank encompassing the genetic variability present in Moringa is needed to perform breeding programmes and develop elite varieties adapted to local conditions. Alimentary and medicinal uses of moringa are reviewed, alongside the production of biodiesel. Finally, being that the leaves are the most used part of the plant, their contents in terms of bioactive compounds and their pharmacological properties are discussed. Many studies conducted on cell lines and animals seem concordant in their support for these properties. However, there are still too few studies on humans to recommend Moringa leaves as medication in the prevention or treatment of diseases. Therefore, further studies on humans are recommended

Occurrence of toxigenic fungi and aflatoxin potential of Aspergillus spp. strains associated with subsistence farmed crops in Haiti

Subsistence farming and poor storage facilities favor toxigenic fungal contamination and mycotoxin accumulation in staple foods from tropical countries such as Haiti. The present preliminary study was designed to evaluate the occurrence of toxigenic fungi in Haitian foodstuffs to define the mycotoxin risk associated with Haitian crops. The objectives of this research were to determine the distribution of toxigenic fungi in the Haitian crops maize, moringa, and peanut seeds and to screen Aspergillus section Flavi (ASF) isolates for production of aflatoxins B1 and G1 in vitro. Maize, moringa, and peanut samples were contaminated by potential toxigenic fungal taxa, mainly ASF and Fusarium spp. The isolation frequency of Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. was influenced by locality and thus by farming systems, storage systems, and weather conditions. Particularly for ASF in peanut and maize samples, isolation frequencies were directly related to the growing season length. The present study represents the first report of contamination by toxigenic fungi and aflatoxin in moringa seeds, posing concerns about the safety of these seeds, which people in Haiti commonly consume. Most (80%) of the Haitian ASF strains were capable of producing aflatoxins, indicating that Haitian conditions clearly favor the colonization of toxigenic ASF strains over atoxigenic strains. ASF strains producing both aflatoxins B1 and G1 were found. Understanding the distribution of toxigenic ASF in Haitian crops and foodstuffs is important for determining accurate toxicological risks because the toxic profile of ASF is species specific. The occurrence of toxigenic fungi and the profiles of the ASF found in various crops highlight the need to prevent formation of aflatoxins in Haitian crops. This study provides relevant preliminary baseline data for guiding the development of legislation regulating the quality and safety of crops in this low-income country