Performance of Maize Storage Technologies in Benin: Fungal Ecology and Mycotoxin Contamination

Objectives: The present work was to study the fungal ecology of maize according to the various storage technologies and evaluate the ability of fungal isolates to produce mycotoxin.

Materials and Methods: Seven maize storage technologies (from A to G) were selected in seven agro-ecological zones and 198 samples of stored maize were collected based on storage technologies. The presence of mold was observed in all the areas prospected in all the type of technologies used. The identification of the mycotoxins produced by mildews isolated of the stored maize has been performed by Thin Layer Chromatography.

Results: Eleven (11) molds were isolated from the samples collected and three storage modes were observed. Fusarium sp, Penicillium sp and Aspergillus niger were the prevalent species with frequencies of 20.71%; 15.15% and 12.12%, respectively. Grain maize mode (55%) was the most used. Also the isolated molds have the ability to produce the toxins when the conditions are favorable. The identification of mycotoxins by Thin Layer Chromatography showed that the isolated and identified molds were producers of mycotoxins. A. parasiticus and A. flavus were not observed in technologies A and B in all the study areas. A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. ochraceus, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum and P. roqueforti showed their ability to produce Aflatoxin B2, Aflatoxin G1, Ochratoxin A, Deoxynivalenol, moniliformin and Roquefortin C, respectively.

Conclusion: These results clearly show an correlation between the technologies of storage and the contamination by the mycotoxins.