Browsing by Author "Nzilano, Biles"

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Integration of Biochar with AtoxigenicStrains ofA. flavusCan Effectively Control Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.)
(International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering, 2024-07) Ibrahim, Joshua; Mkindi, Angela; Mbega, Ernest; Mushongi, Arnold; Nzilano, Biles
AnIn Vitro study conducted at the NM-AIST Laboratory in Arusha, Tanzania,investigated the efficacy of Biochar in managing aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts, both independently and in combination with Aflasafe. Various concentrations (2 X 102, 2 X 104, 2 X 106, and 2 X 108) of atoxigenic biocontrol strainsextracted from AflasafeTZ01were introduced to the groundnut grainstreated with 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% maize cob Biochar. All groundnuts were inoculated with atoxigenic A. flavus(2 x 106) and incubated at 30°C for seven daysbefore aflatoxin quantification using HPLC. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) conducted on the data revealed a significant(P < 0.001) difference among the means in reducing aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2. Notably, there existed an inverse relationship between the concentration of Biochar and aflatoxin content, with the most substantial reduction observed at a 10% Biochar rate. Moreover, integrating Biochar with the Aflasafe biocontrol option further decreased aflatoxin contamination. For example, applying10% Biochar along with 2 x 106Aflasafe resulted in an impressive 99.99% reduction compared to the control. In comparison, using Biochar or Aflasafe alone led to reductions of 80.6% and 90%, respectively.These findings hold significant implications for the agricultural sector, suggesting that the strategic utilization of Biochar and Aflasafe can substantially mitigate aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts. This offers a promising solution to a significant food safety issue, providing hope for a safer and healthier food supply.