Delivery systems for biological control agents to manage aflatoxin contamination of pre-harvest maize

Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2009 Mar;26(3):381-7. doi: 10.1080/02652030802441521.

Abstract

While soil application of a competitive non-toxigenic Aspergillus flavus strains is successful in reducing aflatoxin contamination in certain crops, direct application to aerial reproductive structures could be more effective for maize. A sprayable, clay-based water-dispersible granule formulation was developed to deliver non-toxigenic A. flavus strain K49 directly to maize ears. The efficacy of the K49 water-dispersible granule in mitigating aflatoxin in maize (Zea mays L.) was evaluated. Field studies were conducted to compare K49 colonization and effectiveness in reducing aflatoxin contamination when applied either as a soil inoculant or as a directed spray in plots infested with toxigenic strain F3W4. Fifty percent of non-toxigenic A. flavus was recovered from non-treated controls and from plots soil inoculated with K49 on wheat. In spray treatments with formulated or unformulated K49 conidia, over 90% of A. flavus recovered was non-toxigenic. Soil-applied K49 reduced aflatoxin contamination by 65% and spray applications reduced contamination by 97%. These findings suggest direct spray application of non-toxigenic A. flavus strains may be better than soil inoculation at controlling maize aflatoxin contamination and that a water-dispersible granule is a viable delivery system for maintaining viability and efficacy of the biological control agent, K49.

MeSH terms

  • Aflatoxins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Aspergillus flavus / growth & development*
  • Crops, Agricultural
  • Food Contamination / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Pest Control, Biological / methods*
  • Zea mays / chemistry*
  • Zea mays / microbiology

Substances

  • Aflatoxins