Multi-mycotoxins analysis in post-harvest maize (Zea mays L.) grain from major producing areas of Ethiopia

Mycotoxins are the most notorious compounds contaminating food crops in the production chains, in which cereals and nuts are primarily infected. The present study was aimed at determining multi-mycotoxins in maize grain samples collected at post-harvest stages across the main maize producing districts of Ethiopia. Then, 80 maize samples were collected from three districts (Bako, Ilu Gelan and Oda Bultum) and were analysed by LC-MS/MS. A total of 114 metabolites were with Penicillium and Aspergillus metabolites being positively identified in 26.3 and 18.4% of the samples, respectively. Among the mycotoxins addressed by regulatory limits, deoxynivalenol was detected in 85% of samples with the maximum level of 2,530 μg/kg, while zearalenone was detected in 81%, with levels as high as 3,750 μg/kg. A marked difference was observed across the study locations in the study areas, in which significant difference (P<0.005) of mycotoxin contamination recorded. For instances, of the total sample, contamination was detected on 78.1% in Oda Bultum followed by Ilu Gelan which was detected on 73.7% of the total samples with less proportion of contaminated from Bako district (68.4%). Different mycotoxins of regulated, binding or masked and emerging mycotoxin were also simultaneously detected in the samples. Intervention strategies which can reduce mycotoxin contamination along the maize value chains are required to combat the mycotoxin problems. Further, multi-season studies over multiple agro-ecologies are suggested for the county.