Abstract

MEJIA AGUERO, Luisa Elena; ALVARADO, Rafael; MARTINEZ, Amaury  and  DORTA, Blas. Inhibition of aspergillus flavus growth and aflatoxin b1 production in stored maize grains exposed to volatile compounds of trichoderma harzianum rifai. INCI [online]. 2008, vol.33, n.3, pp.219-222. ISSN 0378-1844.

Inhibition of aflatoxin B1 production and A. flavus biomass accumulation in stored maize with volatile compounds (VCs) produced by T. harzianum was achieved under laboratory conditions. Gamma-irradiated (3Kgrey) maize grains inoculated with A. flavus were exposed to VCs produced by T. harzianum cultured for 15 days in Malt Extract Agar (MEA) or Defatted Corn Germ - Rice Husk (DCGRH) media. A. flavus biomass accumulation and aflatoxin B1 production decreased by 31.7% and 51.87%, respectively, when T. harzianum was cultured in MEA. No inhibitory effect was seen in DCGRH, at the same laboratory scale conditions. However, when VCs production on DCGRH medium was scaled 24´, the proliferation of A. flavus was significantly inhibited (90%). These results confirm the usefulness of T. harzianum as a biocontrol agent for toxigenic fungi in stored grains and its possible role in mycotoxin reduction

Keywords : Aflatoxin B1; Asperguillus flavus; Biocontrol; Trichoderma harzianum; Volatile Compounds.