Survey of some cereal grains and legume seeds for aflatoxin contamination in the Sudan
Abdel-Rahim, A.M.; Osman, N.A.; Idris, M.O.
Zentralblatt für Mikrobiologie 144(2): 115-121
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0232-4393 PMID: 2501947 Document Number: 330676
Aflatoxins were detected in some cereals and leguminous seeds collected from 2 cities in the Sudan (Wad Medani and Khartoum). The levels of the aflatoxins in these seeds were below the reported hazard threshold. Sound intact seeds contained low or no aflatoxins compared to significantly higher levels detectable in damaged and mouldy seeds of the tested crop plants. The optimum temperture for aflatoxin production was variable for different isolates of Aspergillus flavus. The optimum is 30.degree. C for the maize isolate and only 20.degree. C for the haricot bean isolate. Large amounts of aflatoxins B1, B2 and G1 were produced by the 2 isolates while aflatoxin G2 was only produced by the haricot bean isoalte at optimum temperature. Aflatoxin B1 had significnatly affected seed germination and plant development in both maize and haricot bean plants grown from seeds soaked in aflatoxin solutions. The influence was increasing with increasing concentration of the toxin.