Control of mycobiota and mycotoxins contaminating popcorn grains | ||||
Assiut University Journal of Multidisciplinary Scientific Research | ||||
Volume 54, Issue 1, January 2025, Page 99-118 PDF (503.72 K) | ||||
Document Type: Novel Research Articles | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/aunj.2024.316559.1090 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
Mohammed Hamdy Abdel-Hafeez ![]() ![]() | ||||
1assuit university | ||||
21- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71511, Egypt 2- Assiut University Moubasher Mycological Centre (AUMMC), Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt | ||||
31- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71511, Egypt | ||||
Abstract | ||||
Sixty-six species and one varity belonging to 22 genera were recovered from 20 samples of popcorn grains collected from different stores in Assuit Governorate during four seasons from winter 2018 to Autumn 2019 on dichloran rose bengal chloramphenicol agar (DRBC) and dichloran glycerol agar (DG18) media. The most common genera of mycobiota are Aspergillus followed by Fusarium, Cladosporium and Penicillium. The prevalent species were represented by Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Fusarium oxysporum. All collected samples of popcorn were free from detectable amounts of mycotoxins. Among 30 isolates represented 3 species (Aspergillus flavus, A. versicolor and Fusarium verticilloides) only two isolates of Aspergillus flavus were potent to produce Aflatoxin B1. The inhibitory effect of two spices and two essential oils against the growth of the two aflatoxin producers and their abilities for producing aflatoxin as biocontrol agents were examined. Clove was found to be the most effective spice which completely inhibited the growth the two fungal isolates at concentration of 1.0 %. Also, clove essential oil at concentration of 1.0 % showed strong antifungal effect against the two tested fungi. On the other side, each of the two fungal strains could not be produced any detectable amount of aflatoxin in presence of each of the two spices or the two essential oils tested. These results could be useful for rural communities to prevent the contamination of fungi and their toxins in different grains and/or seeds by a simple, safe and low-cost method. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
Popcorn; Fungi; Biocontrol; Spices | ||||
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