MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL EDIBLE PLANTS INHIBITS FUNGUS GROWTH IN CORN, STUDY SHOWS

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Aug. 27 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news release:

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Fungal contamination in stored grain across sub-Saharan Africa causes major post-harvest loss and severe public health risks, costing billions of dollars annually, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). High humidity, warm temperatures and inadequate storage facilities can drive mold proliferation and toxin production in staple crops like corn and the cereal grain sorghum.

Farmers in West Africa have long used a mixture of traditional plants to reduce fungi in grain storage, but the true impact of this approach was unknown, according to an international team led by Penn State foo...