EVALUATION OF AFLATOXINS AND STORAGE FUNGI IN SESAME, CHICKPEA AND FABA BEAN EXPORT COMMODITIES FROM GONDAR TOWN, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA.

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.