Yam (Dioscorea spp) occupies an important place in the diet of the populations of Côte d’Ivoire. It is a real source of starch and therefore generates enormous commercial potential. However, the decrease in production due to pest attacks represents a real threat to this crop. This study was conducted with the aim of improving yam production in Côte d’Ivoire. To do so, isolations carried out on yam leaves showing symptoms of foliar diseases have allowed us to identify 9 fungal genera. These were Colletotrichum sp., Fusarium sp., Pestalotiopsis sp., Pestalotia sp., Botryodiplodia sp., Aspergillus sp., Mucor sp., Curvularia sp. and Phytophtora sp. Among these fungi, the genus Colletotrichum sp. was the most isolated with a rate of 56% followed by the Fusarium and Pestalotia genera (8%). Pathogenicity tests performed on healthy leaves of two yam varieties revealed that the Dioscorea alata is more susceptible to fungi compared to Dioscorea rotundata. The largest average diameter of necrosis was caused by Pestalotiopsis sp. (5.97 cm) on the Dioscorea alata variety while the smallest was caused by Colletotrichum sp.9 on Dioscorea rotundata (0.5 cm). Combatting these fungi need to be developed for effective management of leaf diseases of yam in Côte d’Ivoire.

Food spoilage is an undesirable process and is a serious problem for humans. There are many factors that accelerate and affect food spoilage. In this study, microbial behaviors in foods, microorganisms causing food spoilage and beneficial microorganisms are mentioned.

Dermatophytosis is a mycotic disease of the skin that is resistant to treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment efficacy of a novel antimicrobial agent, Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL), on dermatophytosis of cats and dogs, in comparison with Ketaconazole. In this study, a total of 76 animals (26 cats and 50 dogs) without any disease other than skin fungal infection after clinical, hematological, biochemical, microscopic and Wood's lamp examinations were used. Subjects were randomly assigned to two equal treatment groups within their own species as HOCL: HP and Ketaconazole: KT. Naked eye inspection results were collected on the 8th, 11th and 15th days of all patients. The study was terminated on the 15th day by collecting the Wood's lamp and microscopic examination data together with the last inspection finding. Findings were analyzed statistically with chi-square and CART (Classification and Regression Tree) algorithm test. Inspection results of the treatment groups exhibited significant recovery over time (day 8, 11 and 15) for both species (p0.05). According to the microscopic examination results, a significant statistical difference was observed between the HP and KT groups (p0.05). As a result, it was concluded that HOCl has an effect on dermatophytosis of cat and dogs, although not as much as Ketaconazole, but further studies are needed to reveal the results more clearly.

Global climate is estimated to change drastically over the next century and the ecosystems will be affected in this changing environment. Plant-associated beneficial microorganisms can stimulate plant growth and increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Nowadays, the effects of climate change factors such as increased carbon dioxide (CO2), drought and warming on plant-beneficial microorganism interactions are increasingly being investigated in the scope of plant growth and health. Recent studies have shown that high CO2 level has a positive effect on the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi, whereas the effects on plant growth promoting bacteria and endophytic fungi are more variable. Elevated CO2 conditions lead to increased colonization of beneficial fungi. Additionally, the results of increasing CO2 levels, warming and drought, depend upon the plant and the microbial genotype. Also, plant growth promoting microorganisms, especially bacteria, positively affect plants exposed to drought stress. Altered communities of beneficial microorganisms depending on climate changes, might have to compete with different microbial communities and, therefore microbial activities may also get affected. This work presents that climate change is an important factor affecting microorganism and plant interactions, needs to take into consideration the adaptation processes in plants and microorganisms and might require the selection of adapted plant cultivars.

Mycoflora, mycotoxin contamination and proximate mineral composition of smoked-dried frog (Aubria sp.) samples purchased from different markets in Ibadan, Oyo State were investigated. A total of 20 composite samples made up of 120 smoked-dried frog samples were collected. The total fungi count ranged from 1.0 x103 – 8.0 x 103 cfu/g. A total of 70 fungal strains including: Alternaria sp., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus tamarii, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Fusarium compacticum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium sacchari, Fusarium solani, Fusarium verticillioides, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium citrinum, Penicillium oxalicum, Trichoderma viridae and Rhizophus sp. were isolated from the samples. All the samples were contaminated with aflatoxin and 70% were contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON). The total Aflatoxin and DON in the two sampling ranged from 5.06h – 9.17a ppb, 1.86h – 5.58a ppb and 0.00 – 0.96 ppm and 0.00 – 0.09 ppm. The levels of mycotoxins contamination were within the maximum limit permitted. The Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium spp. were able to produce aflatoxin and DON which ranged from 1.65 – 3.56 ppb and 0.05 – 0.19 ppm. The percentage crude protein, K, Ca and Fe content in the samples ranged from 40.79j – 53.93a, 217.85 – 1235.83 mg/100 g, 4201 – 437.25 mg/100 g and 431.75 – 1065.0 mg/100 g. The moisture content ranged from 11.58h – 16.31a. The Cd, Zn and Cu content ranged from 0.00 – 0.22 mg/100 g, 9.43 – 5.20 mg/100 g and 7.05 – 18.58 mg/100 g. The presence of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxin levels in the dried frog samples is of public health concern and proper attention is needed for the control of quality and adequate preservation before sales and consumption.