Common toxigenic Fusarium species in maize grain in Ethiopia

Abstract

Prevalence of toxigenic species of Fusarium in maize samples collected in Ethiopia was investigated. The three toxigenic species of Fusarium most often associated with Ethiopian maize grain were Fusarium verticillioides [= F. moniliforme] (51.7%), Fusarium subglutinans (24.2%) and Fusarium graminearum (13.9%). Other Fusarium species contributed 10.2% of the total species recovered. A large number of strains of F. verticillioides, F. subglutinans and F. graminearum are known to produce toxic secondary metabolites. The incidence of Fusarium species and the mycotoxins they produce have been positively correlated with numerous toxicoses of man and animals. Thus, the prevalence rate of these toxigenic Fusarium species in Ethiopian maize, destined for human consumption, suggests the possible contamination of maize and its products by Fusarium mycotoxins.

SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 23, No. 1 (June 2000), pp. 73-86



Key words/phrases: Ethiopia, Fusarium, maize, malt, mycotoxins