Scientists Find Solution for Aflatoxin Contamination in Kenya
June 11, 2010| |
A biocontrol agent hopes to eradicate the aflatoxin contamination of the Kenyan corn, a major staple of the region. The aflatoxin-causing fungus Aspergillus flavus can cause liver cancer and suppress the immune system, and was responsible for over 125 deaths in Kenya in 2004.
Scientists at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) led by Dr. Ranajit Bandyopadhyay found that non-toxic producing (atoxigenic) strains of Aspergillus can be used to radically reduce aflatoxin in maize. Eight strains have been identified from thousands of strains collected from moldy maize stored by farmers in Nigeria that could reduce aflatoxin contamination by as much as 99.8% in field trials. A large scale testing in multiple sites in Kenya will be conducted to test the efficacy of the multiple strains as biocontrol agent.
The press release can be viewed at http://www.iita.org/cms/details/iita_news_details.aspx?articleid=1105&zoneid=363
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