Evaluation of the Relationship between the Quality Parameters of Stocked Maize Grains (Zea mays L.) in Polypropylene Bags Containing Leaves of Lippia multiflora (Verbanaceae) and Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae)

The aim of this study is to evaluate the existing relationships between quality parameters of maize grains stored for 9 months in polypropylene bags containing leaves of Lippia multiflora and Hyptis suaveolens. It was carried out in villages of Timb� and Soko respectively in departments of Katiola (Hambol region, Center-North) and Bondoukou (Gontougo region, Northeast) of C�te d'Ivoire. The mass losses and damages were determined by methods of Harris, Lindblad and Boxall. While moisture, aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were determined according to AOAC and European Commission regulation standard methods. The moisture content, weight loss and damages of maize grains was similar evolution to that of aflatoxin B1, total aflatoxins and ochratoxin A regardless of the study site and the grains treatment. However, this increase is faster in the control groups than in the lots containing the biopesticide leaves. For control batches, the variations or amplitude are between 111.23 ?g/kg et 542.85 ?g/kg for the mycotoxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxin A) and between 3.02% and 46.32% for merchantability parameters (moisture content, mass loss and grains damages), regardless the site. As for the lots containing the leaves, they have variations or amplitudes varying between 2.06% and 27.69% for the merchantability parameters and ranging from 4.34 ?g/kg and 107.12 ?g/kg for the mycotoxins whatever the site. Therefore the correlation coefficients determined between the merchantability and sanitary quality parameters are all greater than 0.684 regardless of the site and type of maize grains treatment. Thus, a particular attention, from the producers, must be focused on the initial quality, the conditions and the storage environment of maize grains in order to optimize the biopesticide effect of the leaves for a long-term storage.