Genetic diversity of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus flavus isolated from groundnuts in selected agroecological zones of Uganda

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorAcur, Amos
dc.contributor.authorArias, Renée S.
dc.contributor.authorOdongo, Steven
dc.contributor.authorTuhaise, Samuel
dc.contributor.authorSsekandi, Joseph
dc.contributor.authorMuhanguzi, Dennis
dc.contributor.authorAdriko, John
dc.contributor.authorBuah, Stephen
dc.contributor.authorKiggundu, Andrew
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-02T12:35:35Z
dc.date.available2022-08-02T12:35:35Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractBackground Aspergillus is the main fungal genus causing pre- and post-harvest contamination of groundnuts. Aspergillus flavus belongs to section Flavi, a group consisting of both the aflatoxigenic species (A. flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius) and non-aflatoxigenic species (A. oryzae, A. sojae and A. tamarii). Aflatoxins are food-borne toxic secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus species, causing hepatic carcinoma and stunting in children and are the most toxic carcinogenic mycotoxins ever identified. Despite the well-known public health problems associated with aflatoxicosis in Uganda, information about the genetic diversity of the main aflatoxin causing fungus, Aspergillus flavus in this country is still limited. Results A cross-sectional survey was therefore carried out in three main groundnut-growing agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Uganda; West Nile farming system, Lake Kyoga basin mixed farming system and Lake Victoria basin farming system. This was to assess the genetic diversity of A. flavus and to establish the contamination rates of groundnuts with Aspergillus species at pre- and post-harvest stages. Out of the 213 A. flavus isolates identified in this study, 96 representative isolates were fingerprinted using 16 insertion/deletion microsatellite markers. Data from fingerprinting were analyzed through Neighbor Joining while polymorphism was determined using Arlequin v 3.5. The pre- and post-harvest contamination rates were; 2.5% and 50.0% (West Nile farming system), 55.0% and 35.0% (Lake Kyoga basin mixed farming system) and 32.5% and 32.5% (Lake Victoria basin farming system) respectively. The Chi-square test showed no significant differences between pre- and post-harvest contamination rates among AEZs (p = 0.199). Only 67 out of 96 isolates produced suitable allele scores for genotypic analysis. Analysis of genetic diversity showed higher variation within populations than among populations. Two major clusters (aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic isolates) were identified as colonizing groundnuts at pre- and postharvest stages. Conclusions These findings provide a first insight on the existence of non-aflatoxigenic strains of A. flavus in Uganda. These strains are potential candidates for developing local Aspergillus biocontrol agent.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAcur, A., Arias, RS, Odongo, S., Tuhaise, S., Ssekandi, J., Adriko, J., ... & Kiggundu, A. (2020). Genetic diversity of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus flavus isolated from selected groundnut growing agro-ecological zones of Uganda. BMC microbiology , 20 (1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.13266/v1en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.13266/v1
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/4254
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherBMC microbiologyen_US
dc.subjectMycotoxinsen_US
dc.subjectSecondary metabolitesen_US
dc.subjectAspergillus speciesen_US
dc.subjectAgro-ecological zoneen_US
dc.titleGenetic diversity of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus flavus isolated from groundnuts in selected agroecological zones of Ugandaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Genetic diversity of aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus.pdf
Size:
1.2 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences