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Morphological Characterization and Determination of Aflatoxin-Production Potentials of Aspergillus flavus Isolated from Maize and Soil in Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Matome Gabriel Thathana

    (Department of Biotechnology, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1911, South Africa)

  • Hunja Murage

    (Department of Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200, Juja 0561, Kenya)

  • Akebe Luther King Abia

    (AMBIO Environmental Management, Department of Biotechnology, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1911, South Africa)

  • Michael Pillay

    (Department of Biotechnology, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Vanderbijlpark 1911, South Africa)

Abstract

This study aimed at morphologically identifying Aspergillus flavus in soil and maize and at determining their aflatoxin-producing potentials. Five hundred and fourteen isolates obtained from maize and soil in Kenya were cultivated on Czapeck Dox Agar, Malt Extract Agar, Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, Potato Dextrose Agar, and Rose-Bengal Chloramphenicol Agar. Isolates were identified using macro-morphological characteristics. Micromorphological characteristics were determined using slide cultures. Aflatoxin production was determined by direct visual determination of the UV fluorescence of colonies on Coconut Agar Medium, Yeast Extract Sucrose agar, and Yeast Extract Cyclodextrin Sodium Deoxycholate agar and by Thin Layer Chromatography. Forty-three presumptive A. flavus isolates were identified; aflatoxin was detected in 23% of the isolates by UV fluorescence screening and in 30% by Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC). The aflatoxins produced were: aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ), aflatoxin B 2 (AFB 2 ), and aflatoxin G 1 (AFG 1 ); some isolates produced only AFB 1 , whereas others produced either AFB 1 and AFB 2 or AFB 1 and AFG 1 . The highest incidence of A. flavus (63%) and aflatoxin production (28%) was recorded in samples from Makueni District. Isolates from Uasin Gishu (21%) and Nyeri (5%) were non-aflatoxigenic. Bungoma District recorded 11% positive isolates of which 2% were aflatoxin producers. The occurrence of aflatoxin-producing A. flavus emphasises the need for measures to eliminate their presence in food crops.

Suggested Citation

  • Matome Gabriel Thathana & Hunja Murage & Akebe Luther King Abia & Michael Pillay, 2017. "Morphological Characterization and Determination of Aflatoxin-Production Potentials of Aspergillus flavus Isolated from Maize and Soil in Kenya," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:7:y:2017:i:10:p:80-:d:112729
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    Cited by:

    1. Rahim Khan & Farinazleen Mohamad Ghazali & Nor Ainy Mahyudin & Nik Iskandar Putra Samsudin, 2020. "Morphological Characterization and Determination of Aflatoxigenic and Non-Aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus Isolated from Sweet Corn Kernels and Soil in Malaysia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-13, October.

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