African Entomology (2000) 8, 169-177

K. Hell, K.F. Cardwell, M. Setamou and F. Schulthess (2000)
Influence of insect infestation on aflatoxin contamination of stored maize in four agroecological regions in Benin
African Entomology 8 (2), 169-177
Abstract: Insect species and damage levels were evaluated and related to aflatoxin content in maize sampled from farmers' stores in four agroecological zones over a two-year period in Benin, West-Africa. In 1993, no aflatoxin was detected in maize that was free of insect damage. In the same year, in maize with more than 70 % of cobs damaged by insects 30.3 % were aflatoxin-positive, with a mean aflatoxin contamination of 77.8 ppb (parts per billion or µg/kg). Grain moisture increased with damage levels. The mean aflatoxin content of maize infested with Carpophilus dimidiatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) was significantly higher than maize free of this pest (F = 5.05, P < 0.05). In 1994/95, the density of Mussidia nigrivinella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was significantly higher in the Northern Guinea Savanna than in the other zones, and the presence of this pest was positively correlated with the cob area visibly infected with Aspergillus flavus Link (Deutoremycetes: Monoliales) (r = 0.239, P < 0.05) early in storage. Six months later, damage levels due to insects were significantly lower in the Sudan Savanna than in the other ecozones. The infestation level of the most common storage pest, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curcilionidae) decreased from the south to the north. After six months of storage aflatoxin level was positively correlated with the cob area damaged by Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (r = 0.25, P < 0.05), the number of Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) observed on maize (r = 0.26, P < 0.05) and cob area damaged by S. zeamais (r = 0.22, P < 0.05).
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Kerstin Hell, Kitty F. Cardwell, Fritz Schulthess, Mamoudou Sétamou

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitophilus zeamais	Stored grain	Benin
	Sesamia calamistis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Benin
	Mussidia nigrivenella	Stored grain	Benin
	Aspergillus flavus (plant/storage disease)	Stored grain	Benin
	Carpophilus dimidiatus	Stored grain	Benin
	Thaumatotibia leucotreta	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Benin