Abstract
The aims of the study were to quantify aflatoxins, the potent carcinogens associated with stunting and immune suppression, in maize and groundnut across Zambia's three agroecologies and to determine the vulnerability to aflatoxin increases after purchase. Aflatoxin concentrations were determined for 334 maize and groundnut samples from 27 districts using lateral‐flow immunochromatography. Seventeen per cent of crops from markets contained aflatoxin concentrations above allowable levels in Zambia (10 μg kg−1). Proportions of crops unsafe for human consumption differed significantly (P <0·001) among agroecologies with more contamination (38%) in the warmest (Agroecology I) and the least (8%) in cool, wet Agroecology III. Aflatoxin in groundnut (39 μg kg−1) and maize (16 μg kg−1) differed (P =0·032). Poor storage (31°C, 100% RH, 1 week) increased aflatoxin in safe crops by over 1000‐fold in both maize and groundnut. The L morphotype of Aspergillus flavus was negatively correlated with postharvest increases in groundnut. Aflatoxins are common in Zambia's food staples with proportions of unsafe crops dependent on agroecology. Fungal community structure influences contamination suggesting Zambia would benefit from biocontrol with atoxigenic A. flavus. Aflatoxin contamination across the three agroecologies of Zambia is detailed and the case for aflatoxin management with atoxigenic biocontrol agents provided. The first method for evaluating the potential for aflatoxin increase after purchase is presented.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Seventeen per cent of market crops exceeded Zambia’s allowable aflatoxin level.
- Taxon
- groundnut and maize
Arachis hypogaea
Zea mayst0 - Outcome
- aflatoxin concentrations above allowable levelse0
- Value
- Seventeen per cente0
- Qualifier
- 10 μg kg−1e0
- Setting
- Zambiae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Seventeen per cent of crops from markets contained aflatoxin concentrations above allowable levels in Zambia (10 μg kg−1)”
t0“groundnut and maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Unsafe crop proportions differed significantly among agroecologies.
- Taxon
- groundnut and maizeArachis hypogaeaZea mayst0
- Outcome
- Proportions of crops unsafe for human consumptione0
- Direction
- differede0
- Setting
- agroecologiese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Proportions of crops unsafe for human consumption differed significantly (P <0·001) among agroecologies”
t0“groundnut and maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The warmest agroecology had 38% contamination.
- Taxon
- groundnut and maizeArachis hypogaeaZea mayst0
- Outcome
- contaminatione0
- Direction
- moree0
- Value
- 38%e0
- Setting
- Agroecology Ie0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“more contamination (38%) in the warmest (Agroecology I)”
t0“groundnut and maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Cool, wet Agroecology III had the least contamination at 8%.
- Taxon
- groundnut and maizeArachis hypogaeaZea mayst0
- Outcome
- contaminatione1
- Direction
- leaste0
- Value
- 8%e0
- Setting
- Agroecology IIIe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the least (8%) in cool, wet Agroecology III”
e1“more contamination (38%) in the warmest (Agroecology I) and the least (8%) in cool, wet Agroecology III”
t0“groundnut and maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Groundnut aflatoxin concentration was 39 μg kg−1.
- Taxon
- groundnutArachis hypogaeae0
- Outcome
- Aflatoxine0
- Direction
- differede0
- Value
- 39 μg kg−1e0
- Qualifier
- 16 μg kg−1e0
- Comparator
- maizee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Aflatoxin in groundnut (39 μg kg−1) and maize (16 μg kg−1) differed (P =0·032)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize aflatoxin concentration was 16 μg kg−1.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Aflatoxin in groundnut (39 μg kg−1) and maize (16 μg kg−1) differed (P =0·032)”
Claim · model-written summary
Poor storage increased aflatoxin over 1000-fold in initially safe maize.
- Treatment
- Poor storage (31°C, 100% RH, 1 week)e0
- Outcome
- aflatoxine0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- over 1000‐folde0
- Comparator
- safe cropse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Poor storage (31°C, 100% RH, 1 week) increased aflatoxin in safe crops by over 1000‐fold in both maize and groundnut”
Claim · model-written summary
Poor storage increased aflatoxin over 1000-fold in initially safe groundnut.
- Taxon
- groundnutArachis hypogaeae0
- Treatment
- Poor storage (31°C, 100% RH, 1 week)e0
- Outcome
- aflatoxine0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- over 1000‐folde0
- Comparator
- safe cropse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Poor storage (31°C, 100% RH, 1 week) increased aflatoxin in safe crops by over 1000‐fold in both maize and groundnut”
Claim · model-written summary
The L morphotype of Aspergillus flavus was negatively correlated with postharvest aflatoxin increases in groundnut.
- Taxon
- groundnutArachis hypogaeae0
- Interactor
- Aspergillus flavus
Aspergillus flavuse0pathogen - Outcome
- postharvest increases in groundnute0
- Direction
- negatively correlatede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The L morphotype of Aspergillus flavus was negatively correlated with postharvest increases in groundnut”
e1“Poor storage (31°C, 100% RH, 1 week) increased aflatoxin in safe crops by over 1000‐fold in both maize and groundnut”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest atoxigenic A. flavus biocontrol for Zambia.
- Taxon
- groundnut and maizeArachis hypogaeaZea mayst0
- Interactor
- A. flavusAspergillus flavuse0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- biocontrol with atoxigenic A. flavuse0
- Setting
- Zambiae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Zambia would benefit from biocontrol with atoxigenic A. flavus”
t0“groundnut and maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors present a method to evaluate potential aflatoxin increase after purchase.
- Taxon
- groundnut and maizeArachis hypogaeaZea mayst0
- Outcome
- evaluating the potential for aflatoxin increase after purchasee0
- Value
- firste0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The first method for evaluating the potential for aflatoxin increase after purchase is presented”
t0“groundnut and maize”
The same questions in other papers
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See all 36 papers →humidity · disease · Arachis hypogaea (peanut)Results agree
1 paper in the same direction as this paper
- no effect
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.