Aflatoxin exposure is frequent and widespread in most African countries where the key staples, maize and groundnut, are particularly vulnerable to aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxin-producing fungi are ubiquitous in Africa where they occupy soil and colonize diverse organic matter while producing...
Aflatoxin contamination of crops is frequent in warm regions across the globe, including large areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Crop contamination with these dangerous toxins transcends health, food security, and trade sectors. It cuts across the value chain, affecting farmers, traders, markets, and ...
Bandyopadhyay, Ranajit
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Ortega-Beltran, A.
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Akande, A.
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Mutegi, C.
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Atehnkeng, J.
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Kaptoge, L.
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Senghor, A.L.
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Adhikari, B.N.
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Cotty, P.J.
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[Biological control of aflatoxins in Africa: current status and potential challenges in the face of climate change]
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Biological control of aflatoxins in Africa: current status and potential challenges in the face of climate change
Aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut is perennial in Ghana with substantial health and economic burden on the population. The present study examined for the first time the prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut in major producing regions across three agroecological...
Agbetiameh, D.
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Ortega-Beltran, A.
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Awuah, R.T.
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Atehnkeng, J.
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Cotty, P.J.
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Bandyopadhyay, Ranajit
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[Prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut in Ghana: population structure, distribution, and toxigenicity of the causal agents]
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Prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in maize and groundnut in Ghana: population structure, distribution, and toxigenicity of the causal agents
Aspergillus flavus has long been considered to be an asexual species. Although a sexual stage was recently reported for this species from in vitro studies, the amount of recombination ongoing in natural populations and the genetic distance across which meiosis occurs is largely unknown. In the cu...
Islam, M.S.
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Callicott, K.A.
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Mutegi, C.
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Bandyopadhyay, Ranajit
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Cotty, P.J.
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[Aspergillus flavus resident in Kenya: high genetic diversity in an ancient population primarily shaped by clonal reproduction and mutation-driven evolution]
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Aspergillus flavus resident in Kenya: high genetic diversity in an ancient population primarily shaped by clonal reproduction and mutation-driven evolution
Wild fruits are an important food and income source for many households in Zambia. Non-cultivated plants may be as susceptible as crops to aflatoxin contamination. Concentrations of aflatoxins in commonly consumed wild fruits from markets and characteristics of associated aflatoxin-producers need...
Kachapulula, P.W.
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Bandyopadhyay, R.
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Cotty, P.J.
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[Aflatoxin contamination of non-cultivated fruits in Zambia]
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Aflatoxin contamination of non-cultivated fruits in Zambia
Aims: To assess frequencies of the Aspergillus flavus atoxigenic vegetative compatibility group (VCG) YV36, to which the biocontrol agent AF36 belongs, in maize-growing regions of Mexico.
Methods and Results: Over 3500 A. flavus isolates recovered from maize agroecosystems in four states of Mexic...
Ortega-Beltran, A.
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Grubisha, L.C.
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Callicott, K.A.
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Cotty, P.J.
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[The vegetative compatibility group to which the US biocontrol agent Aspergillus flavus AF36 belongs is also endemic to Mexico]
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The vegetative compatibility group to which the US biocontrol agent Aspergillus flavus AF36 belongs is also endemic to Mexico
West African Aspergillus flavus S isolates differed from North American isolates. Both produced aflatoxin B1. However, 40 and 100% of West African isolates also produced aflatoxin G1 in NH4 medium and urea medium, respectively. No North American S strain isolate produced aflatoxin G1. This geogra...
Cotty, P.J.
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Cardwell, K.F.
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[Divergence of West African and North American communities of Aspergillus section flavi]
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Divergence of West African and North American communities of Aspergillus section flavi
Aspergillus flavus is the most common causal agent of aflatoxin contamination of food and feed. However, aflatoxin-producing potential varies widely among A. flavus genotypes with many producing no aflatoxins. Some non-aflatoxigenic genotypes are used as biocontrol agents to prevent contamination...
Adhikari, B.N.
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Bandyopadhyay, Ranajit
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Cotty, P.J.
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[Degeneration of aflatoxin gene clusters in Aspergillus flavus from Africa and North America]
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Degeneration of aflatoxin gene clusters in Aspergillus flavus from Africa and North America
In California, aflatoxin contamination of almond, fig, and pistachio has become a serious problem in recent years due to long periods of drought and probably other climatic changes. The atoxigenic biocontrol product Aspergillus flavus AF36 has been registered for use to limit aflatoxin contaminat...
Ortega-Beltran, A.
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Moral, J.
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Picot, A.
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Puckett, R.D.
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Cotty, P.J.
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Michailides, T.J.
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[Atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus isolates endemic to almond, fig, and pistachio orchards in California with potential to reduce aflatoxin contamination in these crops]
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Atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus isolates endemic to almond, fig, and pistachio orchards in California with potential to reduce aflatoxin contamination in these crops
Aspergillus flavus frequently contaminates maize, a critical staple for billions of people, with aflatoxins. Diversity among A. flavus L morphotype populations associated with maize in Sonora, Mexico was assessed and, in total, 869 isolates from 83 fields were placed into 136 vegetative compatibi...
Ortega-Beltran, A.
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Cotty, P.J.
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[Frequent shifts in Aspergillus flavus populations associated with maize production in Sonora, Mexico]
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Frequent shifts in Aspergillus flavus populations associated with maize production in Sonora, Mexico