Biocontrol of mycotoxin formation in crops by competitive exclusion: Theory and practice

AGFD 118

John I. Pitt, John.Pitt@csiro.au, Food Science Australia, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia
Most techniques aimed at reducing mycotoxin contamination in crops to date have focused on chemical assays, sorting and cleaning – dealing with mycotoxins after they had been produced. In the longer term, a much more effective technique will be to control the actual formation of mycotoxins in the raw material. The best method so far developed is the use of competitive exclusion, employing non-toxin producing fungi to compete with existing toxigenic strains. This approach has been successfully applied in peanuts and cottonseed, using carefully selected strains of Aspergillus flavus or A. parasiticus. This paper will discuss the theory and practice of this form of biocontrol, and the type of research which has led to successful commercial applications. The prospects for extending the use of competitive exclusion to other crops and mycotoxins will be outlined.
 

Mycotoxins
8:55 AM-12:10 PM, Tuesday, 12 September 2006 San Francisco Marriott -- Nob Hill D, Oral

Division of Agricultural & Food Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006