Aflatoxin in Chili Peppers in Nigeria: Extent of Contamination and Control Using Atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Genotypes as Biocontrol Agents
Across sub-Saharan Africa, chili peppers are fundamental ingredients of many traditional dishes. However, chili peppers may contain unsafe aflatoxin concentrations produced by <i>Aspergillus</i> section <i>Flavi</i> fungi. Aflatoxin levels were determined in chili peppers fro...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/7/429 |
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| author | Chibundu N. Ezekiel Alejandro Ortega-Beltran Eniola O. Oyedeji Joseph Atehnkeng Philip Kössler Folasade Tairu Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon Petr Karlovsky Peter J. Cotty Ranajit Bandyopadhyay |
| author_facet | Chibundu N. Ezekiel Alejandro Ortega-Beltran Eniola O. Oyedeji Joseph Atehnkeng Philip Kössler Folasade Tairu Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon Petr Karlovsky Peter J. Cotty Ranajit Bandyopadhyay |
| author_sort | Chibundu N. Ezekiel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Across sub-Saharan Africa, chili peppers are fundamental ingredients of many traditional dishes. However, chili peppers may contain unsafe aflatoxin concentrations produced by <i>Aspergillus</i> section <i>Flavi</i> fungi. Aflatoxin levels were determined in chili peppers from three states in Nigeria. A total of 70 samples were collected from farmers’ stores and local markets. Over 25% of the samples contained unsafe aflatoxin concentrations. The chili peppers were associated with both aflatoxin producers and atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> genotypes. Efficacy of an atoxigenic biocontrol product, Aflasafe, registered in Nigeria for use on maize and groundnut, was tested for chili peppers grown in three states. Chili peppers treated with Aflasafe accumulated significantly less aflatoxins than nontreated chili peppers. The results suggest that Aflasafe is a valuable tool for the production of safe chili peppers. Use of Aflasafe in chili peppers could reduce human exposure to aflatoxins and increase chances to commercialize chili peppers in premium local and international markets. This is the first report of the efficacy of any atoxigenic biocontrol product for controlling aflatoxin in a spice crop. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:02:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7df8a26ce60e4b6184d0e2b4895b6bb9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:02:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-7df8a26ce60e4b6184d0e2b4895b6bb92022-12-22T04:00:51ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512019-07-0111742910.3390/toxins11070429toxins11070429Aflatoxin in Chili Peppers in Nigeria: Extent of Contamination and Control Using Atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Genotypes as Biocontrol AgentsChibundu N. Ezekiel0Alejandro Ortega-Beltran1Eniola O. Oyedeji2Joseph Atehnkeng3Philip Kössler4Folasade Tairu5Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon6Petr Karlovsky7Peter J. Cotty8Ranajit Bandyopadhyay9International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, NigeriaInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, NigeriaInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, NigeriaInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, NigeriaMolecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research Section, University of Gottingen, 37073 Gottingen, GermanyNational Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan 200272, NigeriaInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, NigeriaMolecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research Section, University of Gottingen, 37073 Gottingen, GermanyUSDA-ARS, Tucson, AZ 85701, USAInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, NigeriaAcross sub-Saharan Africa, chili peppers are fundamental ingredients of many traditional dishes. However, chili peppers may contain unsafe aflatoxin concentrations produced by <i>Aspergillus</i> section <i>Flavi</i> fungi. Aflatoxin levels were determined in chili peppers from three states in Nigeria. A total of 70 samples were collected from farmers’ stores and local markets. Over 25% of the samples contained unsafe aflatoxin concentrations. The chili peppers were associated with both aflatoxin producers and atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> genotypes. Efficacy of an atoxigenic biocontrol product, Aflasafe, registered in Nigeria for use on maize and groundnut, was tested for chili peppers grown in three states. Chili peppers treated with Aflasafe accumulated significantly less aflatoxins than nontreated chili peppers. The results suggest that Aflasafe is a valuable tool for the production of safe chili peppers. Use of Aflasafe in chili peppers could reduce human exposure to aflatoxins and increase chances to commercialize chili peppers in premium local and international markets. This is the first report of the efficacy of any atoxigenic biocontrol product for controlling aflatoxin in a spice crop.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/7/429aflatoxin biocontrolatoxigenic strainschili peppersfungal community structure |
| spellingShingle | Chibundu N. Ezekiel Alejandro Ortega-Beltran Eniola O. Oyedeji Joseph Atehnkeng Philip Kössler Folasade Tairu Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon Petr Karlovsky Peter J. Cotty Ranajit Bandyopadhyay Aflatoxin in Chili Peppers in Nigeria: Extent of Contamination and Control Using Atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Genotypes as Biocontrol Agents Toxins aflatoxin biocontrol atoxigenic strains chili peppers fungal community structure |
| title | Aflatoxin in Chili Peppers in Nigeria: Extent of Contamination and Control Using Atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Genotypes as Biocontrol Agents |
| title_full | Aflatoxin in Chili Peppers in Nigeria: Extent of Contamination and Control Using Atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Genotypes as Biocontrol Agents |
| title_fullStr | Aflatoxin in Chili Peppers in Nigeria: Extent of Contamination and Control Using Atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Genotypes as Biocontrol Agents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aflatoxin in Chili Peppers in Nigeria: Extent of Contamination and Control Using Atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Genotypes as Biocontrol Agents |
| title_short | Aflatoxin in Chili Peppers in Nigeria: Extent of Contamination and Control Using Atoxigenic <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Genotypes as Biocontrol Agents |
| title_sort | aflatoxin in chili peppers in nigeria extent of contamination and control using atoxigenic i aspergillus flavus i genotypes as biocontrol agents |
| topic | aflatoxin biocontrol atoxigenic strains chili peppers fungal community structure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/7/429 |
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