Moulds and mycotoxins in sorghum stored in traditional containers in India

Various traditional containers have been used in India for storage of sorghum grains. Sorghum is susceptible to fungal infestation and toxin elaboration. The present study relates to the mould and mycotoxin contamination (aflatoxin B₁ and T-2 toxin) in stored sorghum in different storage containers viz. “Kotlu” (Storage rooms), earthenware pots, gunny bags and reed baskets. Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. were the prominent genera and the “Kotlu” form of storage was most susceptible to fungal attack. Storage treatment had little effect on fungal contamination, but despite the fungal infestation, the mycotoxin contamination was found to be very low.