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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #375828
Research Project: Improved Environmental and Crop Safety by Modification of the Aspergillus flavus Population Structure

Location: Pest Management and Biocontrol Research

Title: Aflatoxin in chili peppers in Nigeria: extent of contamination and control using atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus genotypes as biocontrol agents

Author
item EZEKIEL, CHIBUNDU - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
item ORTEGA-BELTRAN, ALEJANDRO - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
item OYEDEJI, ENIOLA - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
item ATEHNKENG, JOSEPH - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
item KOSSLER, PHILIP - University Of Gottingen
item TAIRU, FOLASADE - Horticultural Research International
item HOESCHLE-ZELEDON, IRMGARD - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
item KARLOVSKY, PETR - University Of Gottingen
item Cotty, Peter
item BANDYPADHYAY, RANAJIT - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

Submitted to: Toxins
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/2019
Publication Date: 7/22/2019
Citation: Ezekiel, C., Ortega-Beltran, A., Oyedeji, E., Atehnkeng, J., Kossler, P., Tairu, F., Hoeschle-Zeledon, I., Karlovsky, P., Cotty, P.J., Bandypadhyay, R. 2019. Aflatoxin in chili peppers in Nigeria: extent of contamination and control using atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus genotypes as biocontrol agents. Toxins. 11(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11070429.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11070429

Interpretive Summary: Aflatoxins are dangerous, cancer causing chemicals deposited on crops by fungi in the genus Aspergillus. A largely overlooked source of aflatoxin exposure is chili peppers. Of 70 samples of Nigerian chilies, 25% were contaminated with unsafe levels of aflatoxins. An effective means of decreasing aflatoxin contamination of food is by biological control, in which Aspergillus flavus isolates that produce no aflatoxins are distributed in the field to displace aflatoxin producers. Biological control was tested for the first time in chilies. In two of the three provinces, aflatoxin contamination of chilies was significantly lower in treated fields, while in the third province, aflatoxin contamination was very low for both treated and untreated fields. This suggests that biocontrol may be an effective mitigation strategy to control aflatoxin contamination in chili peppers.

Technical Abstract: Across sub-Saharan Africa, chili peppers are fundamental ingredients of many traditional dishes. However, chili peppers may contain unsafe aflatoxin concentrations produced by Aspergillus section Flavi 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 Aspergillus flavus 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.