Abstract:
Soybean is widely consumed worldwide; its demand and productivity increase. The preharvesting,
post-harvesting, and storage of soybean is highly susceptible to fungi growth and
mycotoxin contamination when stored in poor storage conditions. With the objective to evaluate
the occurrence of total aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in soybean grain under farmers' storage
conditions in west Gojjam, Ethiopia, a study was conducted based on 100 samples collected from
three districts: Gashola, Jawi, and Belen. Total aflatoxins (AFT) and ochratoxin A (OTA) were
determined using ELISA. The result indicated that the most common method used by farmers for
storing soybean was sacks and fertilizer bags, traditional gotera and gota (14%, 40%, and 46%,
n = 100), respectively. Occurrence of AFT and OTA: 88% and 69%, respectively. Levels in the
positive sample ranged from 2.1μg/kg to 172.2 μg/kg for AFT and 2.0 μg/kg to 24.5 μg/kg for
OTA. Age of soybean grains after harvest had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the levels of AFT.
However, age of soybean grain after harvesting and location both had a significant effect of the
levels of OTA in the soybean sample. From soybean grain quality, percentages of fungal
infection had a positive correlation of AFT (r = 0.22) and OTA (r = 0.29). The less AFT level
was observed in sample aged 6 months than aged 4 months after harvest. 9.1% (n=100) of
soybean samples exceeded the 10μg/kg maximum level set for soybeans in Ethiopia. However,
74% (n=100) of soybean samples did not comply with the European Commission's 4 μg/kg
maximum level of soybean grain. From the sample (n = 100) 69% had co-occurrence AFT and
OTA. The result of the present investigation underscores the occurrence of AFT and OTA in
farmer-stored soybean grains in Ethiopia. Significant initiatives need to be taken to improve
farmers knowledge about causes of mycotoxin contamination and health impact and to use
improved grain storage technologies such as the use of multi-layer hermetic bags, which are
capable of protecting soybean grains from physical and biological factors that lead to mycotoxin
formation.
Keywords: Soybean, occurance, filamentous fungi, Aflatoxin, Ochratoxin A.