Abstract:
Aflatoxins are highly toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic
and carcinogenic kind of mycotoxin. Consumption of
aflatoxin contaminated commodities poses serious
hazard to the health of human and animals. This study
aimed to determine the Aflatoxin level and storage fungi
quality of export commodities of sesame, chickpeas and
faba beans from Gondar town. The post harvest grain
samples were collected randomly from different cleaning
warehouses and 60 samples were taken for analysis. By
taking 25gm composite sample from each collected
samples followed by washing and surface sterilization
serial dilution were done and the dilution were poured on
PDA plates for isolation and identification of storage
fungi. The prevalence of fungi were high in chickpeas
and faba beans (60%) followed by sesame. Aspergillus
niger (30%, 35% and 40%) and Aspergillus fumigatus
(25%, 40% and 45%) were the most frequently isolates
followed by Aspergillus flavus (15%, 35% and 25%)
from sesame chickpea and faba bean samples. Aflatoxin
B
1
was detected in 11 samples representing 10.33% and
aflatoxin B
2
was detected in 1 sample. The highest
incidence of aflatoxin contamination occurred in
Chickpea (25%) followed by sesame and faba bean (15%
each) while no aflatoxin G
1
and G
2
contamination was
detected in all samples. Therefore, low level of storage
fungi contamination and AFs occurs frequently in
sesame, chickpea and faba bean and can be improved
using proper harvesting practices, storage and
transportation conditions. The small quantities of AFs
warrant performing further investigation, monitoring and
routine analysis on regular basis.
