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Distribution and genetic diversity among Aspergillus flavus isolates across three agro‐ecologies essential for maize cultivation in Ghana
Author(s) -
Dadzie M. A.,
Oppong A.,
Ofori K.,
Eleblu J. S. Y.,
Ifie B. E.,
Blay E. T.,
ObengBio E.,
AppiahKubi Z.,
Warburton M. L.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1111/ppa.13067
Subject(s) - aspergillus flavus , aflatoxin , biology , mycotoxin , genetic diversity , population , agronomy , veterinary medicine , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , demography , sociology
Fungal mycotoxins are important contaminants of agricultural commodities that pose serious concerns to producers, consumers and exporters. Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic metabolite produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus . These fungi and other mould species living in the soil contaminate several crops including maize. This study was undertaken with the following objectives: (i) to assess the presence of A. flavus and other moulds in Ghanaian soil; (ii) to determine the distribution and density of A. flavus under three agro‐ecologies noted for major maize production; and (iii) to assess the effect of percentage of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and soil pH on A. flavus population densities and diversity in the isolates found across the agro‐ecologies. The data showed seven moulds that were common across the agro‐ecologies. Significant differences ( P < 0.05) were observed in the A. flavus density and distribution within and across these agro‐ecologies. Fumesua soils recorded the highest levels of A. flavus (1.185 × 10 3 cfu g −1 ) while Akomadan recorded the least (9.76 × 10 2 cfu g −1 ). Percentage available C, N and soil pH did not significantly influence A. flavus density. The A. flavus isolates identified in this study varied in genetic sequence within the aflatoxin gene cluster, but these differences were not distinguishable by origin.