Microbiology and Biotechnology Research: An Overview Vol. 11

Stored-product insects and mould fungi can interact to reduce grain quantity, seed viability, market quality, and food safety. This study evaluated farmer storage practices in Eritrea and assessed the occurrence of insect pests and fungal contaminants in stored cereals and pulses. Semi-structured interviews, focus-group discussions, and field observations were combined with laboratory assessment of grain damage, germination, and fungal contamination on potato dextrose agar. Farmers used several traditional storage systems, including koffo, maeken, shirfa, wia/suga, birrob, gufet, meshemae, and underground stores. Most respondents stored grain primarily for household food (77.7%), while 15.2% stored grain for later sale and 7.2% for seed. Respondents identified storage as the major stage at which infestation or contamination became evident (74.8%). The principal insect pests were Sitophilus spp., Sitotroga cerealella, Callosobruchus spp., and Tribolium castaneum. Fungal analysis detected Penicillium spp. (89.0%), Aspergillus spp. (76.3%), Fusarium verticillioides (63.2%), Alternaria spp. (14.6%), and less frequent Cladosporium, Ulocladium, and Stemphylium spp. Pest-associated weight loss ranged from 4.37-13.69% in cereals and 8.89-26.70% in pulses. Damaged seed lots generally showed markedly lower germination than undamaged lots. Poorly ventilated containers showed substantially greater fungal incidence (75-92%) than ventilated containers (8-25%). The presence of potentially mycotoxigenic fungi, particularly A. flavus and F. verticillioides, indicates a potential food-safety hazard; however, this study did not chemically quantify mycotoxins. Improved pre-storage drying, sanitation, insect management, moisture control, and appropriately designed hermetic or ventilated storage systems are recommended, together with routine mycotoxin surveillance.