Studies on the Control of Mycotoxin Producing Fungi Isolated from Sorghum Sold in Bida, Niger State Nigeria

Abstract

Sorghum is an important crop in Africa including Nigeria, Mali and Niger. Fungi contaminate grains including sorghum with fungal poisonous secondary metabolites called mycotoxins. The objectives of this study are the isolation of fungi associated with sorghum in storage and assay for the presence of mycotoxins in stored sorghum. Data obtained showed that stored sorghum used in this study contains Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergilus oryzae, Aspergilus flavus, Aspergilus niger, Aspergilus solani, Aspergilus terreus and Fusarium  oxysposum. Rhizopus stolonifer and Fusarium oxysporum produced zearalenone while Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus solani and Aspergillus tereus produced aflatoxins B_1. Fumanisin B₁ and aflatoxinB₁ were produced by Aspergillus flavus. Alium sativum and Zingiber officinale exhibited antifungal activity against the test fungi. This research work will provide a long term economic impact in reducing mycotoxicoses which are acute and chronic toxic diseases caused by mycotoxins. The findings will also serve the purpose of alerting consumers on the dangers of consuming poorly stored sorghum.