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Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) Storage Methods and Associated Mycotoxin in Ethiopia

Negasa Fufa and Tekalign Zelek

The assessment was conducted in major groundnut producing areas of Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to detect important mycotoxins in stored groundnut and to estimate post-harvest loss due to associated mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in stored groundnut. The collected samples were detected by using culture media and HPLC with the standard laboratory methods of SOP/7.2-c-23. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS (version: 26.0) and the mean separated by LSD. The collected samples were composited into five, OR-ELW mixed, EIH Babile mixed, Werer mixed, Limu Shayi mixed and Limu Kosa mixed for the aflatoxin detection. Higher Levels of AFB1 386.10 and 360.96 μg/kg were recorded in the sample collected from Limu Kosa and Limu Shayi areas with the total aflatoxin of 542.25 μg/kg. From the study it was observed that at the initial storage periods the amount of aflatoxin in the sample was low. Therefore, aflatoxins content in the sample shows an increasing trend as the storage periods increased due to the farmers stored immature, drying on the ground with soil contamination, using improper storage methods and laying sacks one over the other which favors the increment of moisture content and temperature and support the development of moulds. Therefore, storage periods are the single most important factor if there are favorable environmental conditions for the development of the toxins. Extension workers interventions are more advisable especially during storage of the crop for the control of the impact of aflatoxins and for exporting safe products and reducing health risks.