Fungal Infection and Aflatoxin Contamination in Stored Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Kernels at Various Stages of Delivery Chain in North Sulawesi Province

ABSTRACT Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) or fragrant nutmeg is an important commodity that has been used in food industry and medicine, hence its quality should be monitored. The objectives of the research were to obtain informations on the postharvest handling of nutmeg conducted by farmers, co...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Okky S. Dharmaputra, Santi Ambarwati, Ina Retnowati, Nijma Nurfadila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SEAMEO, BIOTROP 2016-03-01
Series:Biotropia: The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Biology
Online Access:https://journal.biotrop.org/index.php/biotropia/article/view/458
_version_ 1797782037177827328
author Okky S. Dharmaputra
Santi Ambarwati
Ina Retnowati
Nijma Nurfadila
author_facet Okky S. Dharmaputra
Santi Ambarwati
Ina Retnowati
Nijma Nurfadila
author_sort Okky S. Dharmaputra
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) or fragrant nutmeg is an important commodity that has been used in food industry and medicine, hence its quality should be monitored. The objectives of the research were to obtain informations on the postharvest handling of nutmeg conducted by farmers, collectors and exporters in North Sulawesi province and to investigate the occurrence of fungi (included A. flavus) and aflatoxin contamination in stored nutmeg collected from farmers, collectors and exporters in North Sulawesi province. Moisture content and percentage of damaged kernels were also investigated, because they affect fungal infection. Surveys and obtaining samples of nutmeg in different points of the delivery chain were done in April and May 2013, in three regencies (North Minahasa, Siau Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) and Sangihe Talaud) and two cities (Bitung and Manado). Interviews were conducted during the surveys to collect informations on the postharvest handling of nutmeg in different points of the delivery chain. The total number of nutmeg samples collected from different point of the delivery chain was 76. It consisted of samples collected from farmers (25 samples), collectors (22), and exporters (29). The results showed that in general, the moisture content of nutmeg collected from North Sulawesi province was not higher than the maximum limit of moisture content determineted by SNI (10%). In general, nutmeg collected from farmers and collectors had high percentage of damaged kernels. Aspergillus niger and Endomyces fibuliger were the dominant fungi infecting nutmeg collected from farmers and collectors, while Eurotium repens was the dominant fungus infecting nutmeg collected from exporters. Aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin contents in nutmeg collected from farmers and exporters were relatively high. Based on the results of this study, the method of postharvest handling of nutmeg conducted by farmers, collectors and exporters in North Sulawesi province (North Minahasa, Sitaro and  Sangihe Talaud regencies, Bitung and Manado cities) should be improved to minimize aflatoxin contamination.   Keywords : aflatoxin, fungi, Myristica fragrans Houtt., nutmeg, North Sulawesi province, delivery chain  
first_indexed 2024-03-13T00:05:23Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fb2abeca30014dc2a83be2babc3a6026
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0215-6334
1907-770X
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-13T00:05:23Z
publishDate 2016-03-01
publisher SEAMEO, BIOTROP
record_format Article
series Biotropia: The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Biology
spelling doaj.art-fb2abeca30014dc2a83be2babc3a60262023-07-13T04:58:25ZengSEAMEO, BIOTROPBiotropia: The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Biology0215-63341907-770X2016-03-0122210.11598/btb.2015.22.2.458Fungal Infection and Aflatoxin Contamination in Stored Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Kernels at Various Stages of Delivery Chain in North Sulawesi ProvinceOkky S. Dharmaputra0Santi AmbarwatiIna RetnowatiNijma NurfadilaSEAMEO BIOTROPABSTRACT Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) or fragrant nutmeg is an important commodity that has been used in food industry and medicine, hence its quality should be monitored. The objectives of the research were to obtain informations on the postharvest handling of nutmeg conducted by farmers, collectors and exporters in North Sulawesi province and to investigate the occurrence of fungi (included A. flavus) and aflatoxin contamination in stored nutmeg collected from farmers, collectors and exporters in North Sulawesi province. Moisture content and percentage of damaged kernels were also investigated, because they affect fungal infection. Surveys and obtaining samples of nutmeg in different points of the delivery chain were done in April and May 2013, in three regencies (North Minahasa, Siau Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) and Sangihe Talaud) and two cities (Bitung and Manado). Interviews were conducted during the surveys to collect informations on the postharvest handling of nutmeg in different points of the delivery chain. The total number of nutmeg samples collected from different point of the delivery chain was 76. It consisted of samples collected from farmers (25 samples), collectors (22), and exporters (29). The results showed that in general, the moisture content of nutmeg collected from North Sulawesi province was not higher than the maximum limit of moisture content determineted by SNI (10%). In general, nutmeg collected from farmers and collectors had high percentage of damaged kernels. Aspergillus niger and Endomyces fibuliger were the dominant fungi infecting nutmeg collected from farmers and collectors, while Eurotium repens was the dominant fungus infecting nutmeg collected from exporters. Aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin contents in nutmeg collected from farmers and exporters were relatively high. Based on the results of this study, the method of postharvest handling of nutmeg conducted by farmers, collectors and exporters in North Sulawesi province (North Minahasa, Sitaro and  Sangihe Talaud regencies, Bitung and Manado cities) should be improved to minimize aflatoxin contamination.   Keywords : aflatoxin, fungi, Myristica fragrans Houtt., nutmeg, North Sulawesi province, delivery chain   https://journal.biotrop.org/index.php/biotropia/article/view/458
spellingShingle Okky S. Dharmaputra
Santi Ambarwati
Ina Retnowati
Nijma Nurfadila
Fungal Infection and Aflatoxin Contamination in Stored Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Kernels at Various Stages of Delivery Chain in North Sulawesi Province
Biotropia: The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Biology
title Fungal Infection and Aflatoxin Contamination in Stored Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Kernels at Various Stages of Delivery Chain in North Sulawesi Province
title_full Fungal Infection and Aflatoxin Contamination in Stored Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Kernels at Various Stages of Delivery Chain in North Sulawesi Province
title_fullStr Fungal Infection and Aflatoxin Contamination in Stored Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Kernels at Various Stages of Delivery Chain in North Sulawesi Province
title_full_unstemmed Fungal Infection and Aflatoxin Contamination in Stored Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Kernels at Various Stages of Delivery Chain in North Sulawesi Province
title_short Fungal Infection and Aflatoxin Contamination in Stored Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Kernels at Various Stages of Delivery Chain in North Sulawesi Province
title_sort fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination in stored nutmeg myristica fragrans kernels at various stages of delivery chain in north sulawesi province
url https://journal.biotrop.org/index.php/biotropia/article/view/458
work_keys_str_mv AT okkysdharmaputra fungalinfectionandaflatoxincontaminationinstorednutmegmyristicafragranskernelsatvariousstagesofdeliverychaininnorthsulawesiprovince
AT santiambarwati fungalinfectionandaflatoxincontaminationinstorednutmegmyristicafragranskernelsatvariousstagesofdeliverychaininnorthsulawesiprovince
AT inaretnowati fungalinfectionandaflatoxincontaminationinstorednutmegmyristicafragranskernelsatvariousstagesofdeliverychaininnorthsulawesiprovince
AT nijmanurfadila fungalinfectionandaflatoxincontaminationinstorednutmegmyristicafragranskernelsatvariousstagesofdeliverychaininnorthsulawesiprovince