J. W. Muthomi

Mycotoxin problem in Africa: Current status, implications to food safety and health and possible management strategies

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungal origin and contaminate agricultural commodities before or under post-harvest conditions. They are mainly produced by fungi in the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium genera. When ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin, mycotoxins will cause lowered performance, sickness or death on humans and animals. Factors that contribute to mycotoxin contamination of food and feed in Africa include environmental, socio-economic and food production. Environmental conditions especially high humidity and temperatures favour fungal proliferation resulting in contamination of food and feed. The socio-economic status of majority of inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa predisposes them to consumption of mycotoxin contaminated products either directly or at various points in the food chain. The resulting implications include immuno-suppression, impaired growth, various cancers and death depending on the type, period and amount of exposure. A synergistic effect between mycotoxin exposure and some important diseases in the continent such as malaria, kwashiorkor and HIV/AIDS have been suggested. Mycotoxin concerns have grown during the last few decades because of their implications to human and animal health, productivity, economics of their management and trade. This has led to development of maximum tolerated limits for mycotoxins in various countries. Even with the standards in place, the greatest recorded fatal mycotoxin-poisoning outbreak caused by contamination of maize with aflatoxins occurred in Africa in 2004. Pre-harvest practices; time of harvesting; handling of produce during harvesting; moisture levels at harvesting, transportation, marketing and processing; insect damage all contribute to mycotoxin contamination. Possible intervention strategies include good agricultural practices such as early harvesting, proper drying, sanitation, proper storage and insect management among others. Other possible interventions include biological control, chemical control, decontamination, breeding for resistance as well as surveillance and awareness creation. There is need for efficient, cost-effective sampling and analytical methods that can be used for detection analysis of mycotoxins in developing countries.

Resistance to Iris yellow spot virus and onion thrips among onion varieties grown in Kenya

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) vectored by Thrips tabaci threatens profitable onion production in eastern Africa. Host plant resistance is considered to be the first line of defence against insect-transmitted virus diseases. Hence, information on resistance to IYSV and T. tabaci among common onion cultivars in Kenya is crucial for the development of integrated pest management strategies. This study evaluated the resistance to thrips and IYSV among widely grown onion cultivars in Kenya, viz. Red Pinoy, Red Creole, Bombay Red, Green Bunching and Texas Grano, over two growing seasons. Strawcoloured, diamond-shaped necrotic lesions typical of IYSV infection were observed 2 weeks after transplantation. Observations on thrips numbers per plant, IYSV disease incidence and severity, and virus intensity were undertaken to assess the resistance. Varieties differed significantly with respect to both IYSV disease incidence and thrips numbers per plant from fourth week to physiological maturity. Red Pinoy, Green Bunching and Red Creole were highly susceptible to the virus and thrips, while Texas Grano and Bombay Red were moderately resistant. There were significant differences among the varieties with regard to IYSV intensity, with the highest and the least virus intensity positively correlated with disease severity being recorded in Red Pinoy and Texas Grano, respectively. Among the varieties, Texas Grano produced the highest yield in both seasons, while Red Pinoy produced the least. Hence, Texas Grano and Bombay Red could be recommended as moderately resistant cultivars to thrips and IYSV to be grown in Kenya for markets where pungency is not preferred and preferred, respectively. Regions with high levels of thrips population and IYSV infestation are not suitable for the cultivation of Red Pinoy.

Efficacy of fungicide combinations, phosphoric acid and plant extract from stinging nettle on potato late blight management and tuber yield

Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans is a major constraint to potato production. Inadequate control of the disease has often resulted in potato yield losses. We assessed the efficacy of fungicides, phosphoric acid and stinging nettle extract combinations for late blight control at two locations in Kenya. Disease severity, relative area under disease progress curves (RAUDPC), pathogen lesions and tuber yield were quantified during the 2008 and 2009 cropping cycles. The application of metalaxyl alternated with phosphate resulted in the greatest suppressive effects on late blight. The average late blight severity ranged from 3.5 to 34% in 2008 and 4.7 to 50% in 2009 at Tigoni location. RAUDPC for the same location ranged from 5 to 40% and 5 to 50% in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Similar levels of late blight severity were recorded at Marimba location in both years. Lesion growth and pathogen lesion numbers on potato plants differed significantly (p < 0.05) among treatments. Fungicides, phosphoric acid and stinging nettle extract varied in late blight control. Potato tuber yield varied among treatments. Phosphoric acid treatment had significantly (p < 0.05) greater tuber yield compared to metalaxyl at both locations. Field plots treated with plant extracts from stinging nettle resulted in the lowest tuber yield compared to other treatments with the exception of the untreated control. Fungicides, phosphoric acid, stinging nettle extract and their combinations can be readily effective in the suppression of late blight severity and pathogen lesions with moderate increases in tuber yield.

Seed Potato Production Practices and Quality of Farm Saved Seed Potato in Kiambu and Nyandarua Counties in Kenya

Potato production in Kenya is mainly constrained by limited supply of quality seed potato tubers. The objective of this study was to determine seed potato handling practices and quality of farm saved seed potato. A survey involving 79 farmers was conducted in potato production areas in Kiambu and Nyandarua Counties to collect information on seed potato production practices including sources of seed tubers, seed selection, seed tuber storage, pests and diseases. Samples of seed potato were collected from farmers and evaluated for quality parameters such as tuber size, weight, stout sprout length and infection with diseases. Factors affecting potato production included limited quality seed supply, pests and diseases. Shangi was the main potato variety grown by majority (62.8%) of farmers and all the farmers used own farm saved seed. Most (45.5%) farmers recycled the seed for four seasons and 44.1% of farmers stored seed potato for three months. Freeness from seedborne diseases was the main seed quality preference by farmers. The main pest reported was cutworms (42.6% of farmers) while potato late blight and bacterial wilt were the major diseases reported by 87.1% and 86.7% of the farmers respectively. All farm saved seed potato samples were infected with Fusarium coeruleum, 51.2% with Rhizoctonia solani, 53.3% with Fusarium sambunicum, 33.3% with Fusarium solani and 48.3% with Aspergillus niger. Over 69% of the farm saved seed samples were infected with Ralstonia solanacearum while 40.1% were infected with Potato Virus S, the most dominant. Due to poor post-harvest handling practices, farmers incurred seed quality and quantity losses in storage. Farm saved seed is contaminated with multiple seed borne diseases. Farmers should be sensitized on appropriate seed potato handling practices and there should be increased supply of certified seed potato.

Seasonal dynamics and alternate hosts of thrips transmitted Iris yellow spot virus in Kenya

Thrips-transmitted Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) (Family Tospoviridae, Genus Orthotospovirus) is a major constraint to onion (Allium cepa L.) production in Kenya. Determining seasonal patterns of the vector and alternate hosts of the virus could help onion farmers plan Integrated Pest Management strategies; while allowing them to move away from calendar-based applications of insecticides. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution, seasonal variations and alternate hosts of vector and IYSV. For distribution, a survey was carried out on a network of farms in all onion growing areas in Kenya; while for seasonality, surveys were done in two areas; Loitoktok and Naivasha. Data were collected on IYSV incidence, thrips population and alternate hosts. Results showed IYSV was widely distributed in all onion growing areas; with incidence varying from 26 to 72%. Highest IYSV incidence was recorded during the cool-dry season, and varied from 56.5 to 71%; while lowest IYSV incidence in onions was observed during the cool and wet season (29.9 to 32.2%). Iris yellow spot disease incidence positively correlated with the number of onion thrips in Loitokitok (r = 0.659; P<0.0001) and Naivasha (r = 0.623; P<0.0001). Identified alternate hosts for IYSV were leeks, chives, shallots, lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, Chinese lantern and black nightshade.Occurrence of thrips on onions, which is grown all year round calls for urgent integrated pest management strategies that includes host plant resistance, field sanitation, forecasting and use of beneficial insects and parasitoids to reduce impact of the pest and disease. Plant health adherence through removal of alternate weeds hosts around the cultivated fields, would be useful in minimising IYSV incidence

Effect of Soil Fertility and Intercropping on the Incidence and Severity of Root Rot Diseases of Common Bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

High occurrence of root rots is attributed to continuous and inappropriate cropping systems, low soil fertility levels, low moisture in soil, use of farm saved seeds and use of root rot susceptible bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties. This study evaluated the effect of soil fertility and intercropping on the incidence and severity of root rot diseases of common bean. Soil samples were collected at the start of the 2016 short rain cropping season to determine the soil nutrients status, and the incidence and population of soil borne fungal pathogens. The soil samples were analyzed for total nutrient status and pH levels. Soil borne fungal pathogens were isolated from the soil and stem bases by pour plate technique. Farm saved seeds of bean varieties KK8 and GLP2 were planted in field experiments at three sites in pure stand, intercropped with maize, applied with and without fertilizer. Data collected included seedling emergence, stand count, bean fly incidence, root rot distribution, incidence and severity, and yield. The pathogens isolated from soil and stem bases included F. oxysporum, F. solani, Pythium spp, Macrophomina and Rhizoctonia spp, with Fusarium spp. being the most predominant at 40% incidence and mean population of 3000 CFU/g of soil. Bean intercropped with maize had 22% lower intensity of root rot compared to the sole crop. The findings of this study demonstrate that low soil fertility, use of farm saved seeds and high inoculum levels of soil borne pathogens in the soil contributed to the high incidence of root rots in the study sites. In addition bean varieties intercropped with maize had a 17% lower incidence of root rot pathogens compared to bean varieties from sole crop. It was observed that intercropping system reduces pests and diseases. However, root rot pathogens isolated from bean intercropped with maize had a significantly lower incidence than the sole crops.

Antifungal Activity of Local Microbial Isolates against Snap Bean Pathogens

Small holder farmers of snap beans face the constraint of diseases that affect the crop from planting to harvesting. These diseases range from root rots, wilts, stem rots, blights, leaf spots, mildews and rusts. The notable causal agents of these diseases include species of Alternaria, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Colletotrichum and Phaeoisariopsis (Infonet-Biovision, 2016). These economically important pathogens of snap beans lead to low yields and further damage market preferred pod quality characteristics (Mohammed, 2013; Mulanya, 2014; Nyasetia, 2011). Frequent use of synthetic pesticides in managing diseases in snap beans is unsustainable as they are hazardous to non-target organisms, pollutes the environment, lead to resistance by pathogens against fungicides and lead to chemical residues above recommended levels on pods which lead to interception and rejection of produce at export markets International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 5 Number 12 (2016) pp. 112-122 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Characterisation offusarium graminearum andF. culmorum isolates by mycotoxin production and aggressiveness to wheat

A total of 27Fusarium culmorum isolates from Germany and 41F. graminearum isolates from Kenya were investigated for aggressiveness and mycotoxin production on wheat ears. In addition, ergosterol content of the kernels from ears inoculated withF. graminearum was determined and theF. culmorum isolates were tested for mycotoxin productionin vitro. For both pathogens, isolates markedly differed in aggressiveness. 59% and 37% of theF. culmorum isolates produced NIV and DON, respectively,in vivo andin vitro. The DON-producing isolates also produced 3-acDONin vitro. The more aggressive isolates produced mainly DON while the less aggressive isolates produced mainly NIV. 12% and 85% of theF. graminearum isolates produced NIV and DON, respectively. The highly aggressive isolates produced higher amounts of DON, aggressiveness being highly correlated to DON content in the kernels. NIV-producing isolates were less aggressive. Ergosterol content of kernels was moderately correlated to aggressiveness but highly correlated to DON content. Disease severity was associated with kernel weight reduction.Zusammenfassung27 Isolate vonFusarium culmorum aus Deutschland und 41 Isolate vonF. graminearum aus Kenia wurden auf ihre Aggressivität und Mykotoxinbilung an Weizenähren untersucht. Die Isolate beider Arten unterschieden sich in ihrer Wirkung auf das TKG bzw. in der Symptomausprägung an der Ähre. Die aggressiveren Isolate bildeten vor allem Deoxynivalenol (F. culmorum 59%,F. graminearum 85%), Nivalenol-produzierende Isolate verursachten geringere Schäden. Diein vitro-Mykotoxinbildung (auf autoklavierten Maiskörnern) vonF. culmorum war sehr eng mit derin vivo korreliert. Der Ergosterolgehalt der Körner als Maß für die pilzliche Biomasse war enger mit dem DON-Gehalt als mit der Aggressivität der Isolate korreliert.