Atehnkeng J., Ojiambo P.S., Ikotun T., Sikora R.A., Cotty P.J., Bandyopadhyay R.
Food Additives and Contaminants - Part A Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure and Risk Assessment
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United St
Atehnkeng, J., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Ojiambo, P.S., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States; Ikotun, T., Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Sikora, R.A., Department of Soil Ecosystem Phytopathology and Nematology, Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Cotty, P.J., Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States; Bandyopadhyay, R., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
Aflatoxin contamination resulting from maize infection by Aspergillus flavus is both an economic and a public health concern. Therefore, strategies for controlling aflatoxin contamination in maize are being investigated. The abilities of eleven naturally occurring atoxigenic isolates in Nigeria to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize were evaluated in grain competition experiments and in field studies during the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons. Treatments consisted of inoculation of either grains in vials or ears at mid-silking stage in field plots, with the toxigenic isolate (La3228) or atoxigenic isolate alone and co-inoculation of each atoxigenic isolate and La3328. Aflatoxin B1 + B2 concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the co-inoculation treatments compared with the treatment in which the aflatoxin-producing isolate La3228 was inoculated alone. Relative levels of aflatoxin B1 + B2 reduction ranged from 70.1% to 99.9%. Among the atoxigenics, two isolates from Lafia, La3279 and La3303, were most effective at reducing aflatoxin B1 + B2 concentrations in both laboratory and field trials. These two isolates have potential value as agents for the biocontrol of aflatoxin contamination in maize. Because these isolates are endemic to West Africa, they are both more likely than introduced isolates to be well adapted to West African environments and to meet regulatory concerns over their use throughout that region.
aflatoxin B1; aflatoxin B2; aflatoxin; aflatoxin B1; aflatoxin B2; Africa; article; Aspergillus flavus; biological control agent; controlled study; enzyme analysis; enzyme stability; food analysis; food contamination; fungal contamination; fungus isolation; inoculation; maize; Nigeria; priority journal; bacterial spore; biological pest control; chemistry; crop; drug antagonism; ecology; food control; maize; methodology; microbiology; Aspergillus flavus; Zea mays; Aflatoxin B1; Aflatoxins; Aspergillus flavus; Crops, Agricultural; Ecology; Food Microbiology; Nigeria; Pest Control, Biological; Spores; Zea mays