Multitarget environmental approach for control of growth and toxin production by Fusarium culmorum using essential oils and antioxidants

摘要

Twenty-three essential oils and six antioxidants were screened for control of growth of the mycotoxigenic species Fusarium culmorum. Of these, three essential oils (bay, clove and cinnamon oil) and two antioxidants fpropyl paraben and hydroxymethylanisole) were found to be effective in controlling growth in the at concentrations of 50-200 ppm at 15 deg C and 25 deg C over the range 0.995 to 0.955 water activity (a_w). More detailed studies were carried out to examine the efficacy of interactions between water activity a_w (0.955, 0.995), temperature (15 deg C and 25 deg C) and these control treatments (100 ppm; 500 ppm) on growth and both deoxynivalenol and nivalenol mycotoxin production by F. culmorum on irradiated wheat grain. Higher concentrations of these control treatments (500 ppm) were needed to reduce or inhibit growth significantly on wheat grain when compared to that in vitro. Growth of F. culmorum was significantly affected by temperature, a_w and antifungal treatment. At 100 ppm concentration the essential oils/antioxidants stimulated growth under some of the experimental conditions. Growth was significantly inhibited by 500 ppm concentration. Cinnamon and clove essential oils were the most effective inhibitors of growth regardless of temperature or a_w level used. The control treatments had a variable effect on the production of mycotoxins by F. culmorum. Butylated hydroxy anisole and clove oil inhibited nivalenol and deoxynivalenol production at both 100 and 500 ppm concentrationon wheat grain. However, propyl paraben and cinnamon oil enhanced nivalenol production at 100 ppm and intermediate a_w levels.