Full Length Research Paper

Aflatoxin in mould infested sesame seeds

Mbah, M. C.¹* and Akueshi, C. O.²

¹Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B.53 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Nigeria.

²Department of Botany, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail:  mbahmat@fastmail.fm.

Former address: Department of Dryland Crop and Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekelle University, P.O.Box 231 Mekelle, Tigray. Ethiopia.

Accepted 27 December, 2006

Experiments were carried out with two species of seeds of sesame (Benniseed) (Sesamum indicum Link, and Sesamum radiatum  Schumach) inoculated with a storage  fungus (Aspergillus flavus)  previously isolated from seeds of sesame The inoculated seeds were incubated for 10, 15 and 20 day intervals at 30°C. Results showed that S. indicum inoculated with the test fungus A. flavus and incubated for a period of 20 days showed the presence of aflatoxin B₁ estimated to be 25 ppb. While seeds of S. rediatum inoculated with the same test fungus and inculcated for the same length of time did not show any presence of aflatoxin. All the seeds of the two species of sesamum inoculated with the test fungus and incubated for 10 and 15 day intervals showed no presence of aflatoxin. The results portray the danger of consuming infested seeds of sesame which usually appear uninfested to a casual observer when A. flavus grows on them and the inherent danger of using such seeds for livestock feed.

Key words: Sesame seed, aflatoxin, Aspergillus  flavus, storage fungus.