AIM: The present work investigated the efficacy of native biocontrol candidates (antagonists) against aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and fumonisins produced by native mycotoxigenic fungi isolated from Malaysia at different pathogen: antagonist inoculum ratios on grain corn agar and grain corn kernels.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Five pathogen: antagonist inoculum ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) were employed. Non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus Af1KD and Af5TD, and Penicillium janthinellum were used against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and aflatoxin B2 (AFB2) by A. flavus. Against ochratoxin A (OTA) by A. niger, and fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fumonisin B2 (FB2) by Fusarium verticillioides and F. proliferatum, respectively, the antagonists Trichoderma asperelloides, T. asperellum, and T. harzianum were used. Non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus Af1KD was the most effective against AFB1 and AFB2 at all tested ratios and substrates. All Trichoderma spp. were effective against OTA by A. niger on grain corn agar at all tested ratios. T. asperelloides and T. asperellum were effective against FB1 and FB2 produced by F. verticillioides at all tested ratios and substrates. T. asperelloides was effective against FB1 and FB2 by F. proliferatum at all tested ratios and substrates.
CONCLUSION: The native biocontrol candidates were effective against mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxin production on grain corn agar and grain corn kernels, and could be developed into biocontrol agents.
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.