EFFECT OF TRICHODERMA sp. TC1 AND ITS EXTRACT ON GROWTH INHIBITION AND AFLATOXIN PRODUCTION OF Aspergillus flavus AND Aspergillus parasiticus

Abstract

     Aflatoxins are toxic carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced predominantly by two fungi: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. These fungi are a health risk and are responsible for losses and contamination of processed foods and feeds. It is very important to find methods to inhibit the growth of A. flavus and A. parasiticus, and degrade aflatoxin. In laboratory conditions, the Percentages of Inhibition of Radial Growth (PIRG %) of Trichoderma sp. TC1 against A. flavus LA21 and A. parasiticus NG10 after 7 days’ dual culture were 63.51% and 60.22%, respectively. However, the use of Trichoderma sp.TC1 mycelium has restrictions in agricultural products due to the risks of consuming the substrate and degrading the products’ quality. Therefore, its extracts are more preferred in application. In the PD media, when up to 4% Trichoderma sp. TC1 extract was added, the biomass rate for A. flavus LA21 and A. parasiticus NG10 reduced to 74.00% and 60.30%, respectively, after 5 days of incubation. The toxin levels of corn samples deliberately infected by aflatoxin producing fungi were negatively correlated with sprayed on Trichoderma sp. TC1 extract. Seven days after spraying the extract 4%, the aflatoxin in samples from more than 60 ppb at the initial time reduced down to 16 ppb for A. flavus LA21 and 21.33 ppb for A. parasiticus NG10.