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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #229002
Title: Evaluation of Atoxigenic Strains of Aspergillus flavus as Potential Biocontrol Agents for Aflatoxin in Maize

Author
item ATEHNKENG, JOSEPH - IITA IBADAN NIGERIA
item OJIAMBO, P - IITA IBADAN NIGERIA
item IKOTUN, T - UNIV OF IBADAN NIGERIA
item SIKORA, R - UNIV OF BOHN GERMANY
item Cotty, Peter
item BANDYOPADHYAY, R - IITA IBADAN NIGERIA

Submitted to: Journal of Food Additives & Contaminants
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/3/2008
Publication Date: 10/27/2008
Citation: Atehnkeng, J., Ojiambo, P.S., Ikotun, T., Sikora, R.A., Cotty, P.J., Bandyopadhyay, R. 2008. Evaluation of Atoxigenic Isolates of Aspergillus flavus as Potential Biocontrol Agents for Aflatoxin in Maize. Food Additives & Contaminants. Part A, 25:10, 1264-1271

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxin contamination resulting from maize infection by Aspergillus flavus is both an economic concern and public health concern. Therefore, strategies for controlling maize contamination are being investigated. Abilities of 11 naturally occurring atoxigenic strains in Nigeria to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize was 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, in field plots, ears at mid silking stage, respectively, with the toxigenic strain (La3228) and atoxigenic alone and co-inoculation of each atoxigenic strain and La3328. Aflatoxin B1concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the co-inoculation treatments compared to treatments inoculated with the aflatoxin-producing La3279 alone. Relative levels of aflatoxin B1 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 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 more likely than introduced isolates both to be well adapted to West African environments and to meet regulatory concerns over their use throughout that region.