Aspergillus and aflatoxin in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and groundnut cake in Eastern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to assess major Aspergillus species and aflatoxins associated with groundnut seeds and cake in Eastern Ethiopia and evaluate growers’ management practices. A total of 160 groundnut seed samples from farmers’ stores and 50 groundnut cake samples from cafe and restaurants were collected. Fungal isolation was done from groundnut seed samples. Aspergillus flavus was the dominant species followed by Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxin analyses of groundnut seed samples were performed using ultra performance liquid chromatography; 22.5% and 41.3% of samples were positive, with total aflatoxin concentrations of 786 and 3135 ng g⁻¹ from 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 samples, respectively. The level of specific aflatoxin concentration varied between 0.1 and 2526 ng g⁻¹ for B₂ and B₁, respectively. Among contaminated samples of groundnut cake, 68% exhibited aflatoxin concentration below 20 ng g⁻¹, while as high as 158 ng g⁻¹ aflatoxin B₁ was recorded. The study confirms high contamination of groundnut products in East Ethiopia.

KEYWORDS:

• Aflatoxins
• Aspergillus
• groundnut
• groundnut cake
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by USAID-FtF and Peanut and Mycotoxin Innovation Laboratory in University of Georgia, USA, and United States Department of Agriculture- Agricultural research Services- National Peanut Research Laboratory. The study is part of a PhD Dissertation study at Haramaya University, Ethiopia. The authors also thank Dr. Bruce Horn’s assistance during fungal identification.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This publication was made possible through financial support provided by the Office of Agriculture, Research and Policy, Bureau of Food Security, U.S. Agency for International Development, under the terms of Award No. AID-ECG-A-00-07-0001 to The University of Georgia as management entity for the U.S. Feed the Future Innovation Lab on Peanut Productivity and Mycotoxin Control and USDA-ARS- National Peanut Research Laboratory: CRIS project 6044-21000-004-00D. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development.