Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of several commercial chemical agents (DMF, AP and Chumeijing) on the prevention of fungal contamination in household storage of wheat in Cixian county.
Methods: The antifungal agents tested include dimethyl fumarate, DMF, aluminium phosphide, AP and Chumeijing (a Chinese product comprised of propionic acid, formic acid, sorbic acid and fumaric acid). The chemicals were applied in the wheat containers in the rural households. The fungal contamination and the inhibitory effects on fungal growth in wheat were measured by fungal isolation, culture, identification and count.
Results: The fungal contamination in the household wheat before using fungicides were quite common, with an overall contamination rate of 67.5% to 100%. The application of the three chemical fungicides effectively reduced fungal contamination in household stored wheat, and the effective rate for DMF, AP, AMF + AP and Chumeijing was 91.2%, 85.2%, 100% and 100% respectively, while the rate of fungi growth inhibition was (61.9 +/- 21.6)%, (64.0 +/- 21.6)%, (72.5 +/- 18.0)% and (63.1 +/- 24.3)% respectively.
Conclusion: DMF, AP and Chumeijing are all effective in the prevention of fungal contamination for household stored wheat in Cixian county. AP is not recommended owing to its higher toxicity, compared with the other chemicals tested.