INFLUENCE OF OTHER FUNGI ON AFLATOXIN PRODUCTION BY ASPERGILLUS-FLAVUS IN MAIZE KERNELS

Experiments were designed to determine whether certain nontoxigenic fu ngi commonly isolated from maize kernels can affect aflatoxin B-1 deve lopment when inoculated with A, flavus onto individual unsterilized, a nd autoclaved maize kernels. Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus niger were found to be strongly antagonist inhibiting the growth of A. flavu s by 87 and 66% respectively, whereas Aspergillus versicolor, Fusarium moniliforme, Paecilomyces variotii and Emericella quadrillineata inhi bited the growth of A, flavus by less than 51%. Less aflatoxin B-1 was defected when A. flavus was paired with A. niger or T. viride than wi th the other test fungi. When A. niger or T. viride was introduced ont o the kernels 72 h before inoculation with A. flavus, no aflatoxin B-1 was detected in unsterilized kernels and the levels of aflatoxin B-1 were greatly reduced from 700 ppb to 160 and 140 ppb in autoclaved ker nels, respectively. When inoculation of A. flavus followed 72 h of inc ubation of either A. niger and T. viride, no aflatoxin B-1 was detecte d. However, when both A. niger and T. viride were introduced 72 h afte r inoculation with A. flavus, the levels of aflatoxin B-1 were reduced to 385 and 560 ppb, respectively in unsterilized and autoclaved maize kernels. Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus niger may be useful in bi ological control of aflatoxin contamination of maize kernels.