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Negligible Levels of Mycotoxin Contamination in Durum Wheat and Groundnuts from Non-Intensive Rainfed Production Systems

Author

Listed:
  • Paola De Santis

    (Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
    Alliance of Bioversity International and The International Center for Tropical Agriculture, 00153 Rome, Italy)

  • Dejene K. Mengistu

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and The International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

  • Yosef Gebrehawaryat Kidane

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and The International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

  • Rose Nankya

    (Alliance of Bioversity International and The International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Kampala P.O. Box 24384, Uganda)

  • Barbara De Santis

    (Chemical Food Safety Unit, Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Gabriele Moracci

    (Chemical Food Safety Unit, Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesca Debegnach

    (Chemical Food Safety Unit, Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Riccardo Marsiglia

    (Chemical Food Safety Unit, Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Massimo Reverberi

    (Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Mycotoxins are chemical contaminants that are invisible, tasteless, chemically stable and survive food processing. Contamination along the agri-food chain is difficult to control since their production and spreading are due to numerous factors including temperature, relative humidity, insect infestation, and susceptibility of the host plant. This is a pilot study which aims at assessing the contamination level of deoxynivalenol (DON), and its plant metabolites (3AcDON, 15 AcDON, DON 3G), nivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, and ochratoxin A in thirty-seven traditional varieties of Ethiopian durum wheat, and aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in thirty-one varieties of Ugandan groundnuts grown in non-intensive rainfed production systems. Results indicate absence of mycotoxin contamination in all durum wheat samples and negligible levels of contamination (below the maximum levels tolerated by international standards) in groundnut samples. Further studies are required to assess if non-intensive production systems and varieties have a role in preventing and/or reducing mycotoxin contamination of the crops.

Suggested Citation

  • Paola De Santis & Dejene K. Mengistu & Yosef Gebrehawaryat Kidane & Rose Nankya & Barbara De Santis & Gabriele Moracci & Francesca Debegnach & Riccardo Marsiglia & Massimo Reverberi, 2021. "Negligible Levels of Mycotoxin Contamination in Durum Wheat and Groundnuts from Non-Intensive Rainfed Production Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:18:p:10309-:d:636049
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Biggeri, Mario & Burchi, Francesco & Ciani, Federico & Herrmann, Raoul, 2018. "Linking small-scale farmers to the durum wheat value chain in Ethiopia: Assessing the effects on production and wellbeing," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 77-91.
    2. Graeub, Benjamin E. & Chappell, M. Jahi & Wittman, Hannah & Ledermann, Samuel & Kerr, Rachel Bezner & Gemmill-Herren, Barbara, 2016. "The State of Family Farms in the World," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 1-15.
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