Natural maize pytochemicals for control of maize mycoflora and aflatoxigenic fungi

NESCI, A.; MARÍN, S.; ETCHEVERRY, M.; SANCHIS, V.

World Mycotoxin Journal

Wageningen Academic Publishers

Lugar: Bilthoven, The Netherland; Año: 2009 vol. 2 p. 305 - 312

1875-0710

This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the natural phytochemicals trans-cinnamic acid (CA) alone at concentrations of 20 and 25 mM, ferulic acid (FA) at concentration of 30 mM and two mixtures, CA-FA (20 + 30 mM) and CA-FA (25 + 30 mM) on natural maize mycoflora, Aspergillus section Flavi population and aflatoxin B1 production. These studies were carried out in maize grain in relation to a water activity of 0.99, 0.97 and 0.94. CA at 25 mM and the mixture CA-FA T6 (25 + 30 mM) were the most effective treatments at inhibiting natural maize mycoflora at all aw assayed after 11 and 35 d of incubation at 25ºC. In general, CA 20 mM caused complete inhibition of Aspergillus section Flavi population at all aw values tested during all incubation period without an additional inoculum. T2 (CA 20 mM) and T3 (CA 25 mM) showed the major inhibitory effect on AFB1 accumulation of control and Aspergillus section Flavi additionally inoculated during all incubation periods. The data showed that CA and FA could be considered as effective fungitoxicants for natural maize mycoflora and aflatoxigenic fungi in the aw range 0.99 to 0.94. The information obtained shows promise for controlling aflatoxigenic fungi in stored maize.