EFFECT OF 4 PESTICIDES ON AFLATOXIN PRODUCTION BY ASPERGILLUS-FLAVUS IMI 89717

The effect of three fungicides (Vitavax-Captan, Rizolex-T and Sumiscle x) and one insecticide (Actellic), when incorporated into liquid mediu m or applied to corn grains and sunflower seeds, on the production of aflatoxin by A.flavus IMI 89717 was tested. In liquid medium, aflatoxi n production was inhibited by 27%, 82%, 100% and 100% when Vitavax-Cap tan was added at 10, 25, 50 and 100 ppm, respectively. Sumisclex reduc ed to some extent the production of total aflatoxin, while Rizolex-T a nd Actellic did not affect quantitatively the mycotoxin production. Ri zolex-T proved to be the the most effective pesticides tested on aflat oxin production on both corn-grains and sunflower seeds, while Vitavax -Captan was the second most effective pesticide. Both Sumisclex and Ac tellic did not inhibit aflatoxin production on either corn grains or s unflower seeds at the levels tested.