Molecular and aflatoxigenicity analyses of Aspergillus flavus isolates indigenous to grain corn in Malaysia; potentials for biological control

Aims: The present work aimed to distinguish the indigenous Aspergillus flavus isolates obtained from the first (pioneer) grain corn farms in Terengganu, Malaysia, into aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic by molecular and aflatoxigenicity analyses, and determine the antagonistic capability of the non-aflatoxigenic isolates against aflatoxigenic counterparts and their aflatoxin production in vitro.

Methods and results: Seven A. flavus isolates previously obtained from the farms were characterized molecularly and chemically. All isolates were examined for the presence of seven aflatoxin biosynthesis genes, and their aflatoxigenicity was confirmed using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. Phylogenetic relationships of all isolates were tested using ITS and β-tubulin genes. Of the seven isolates, two were non-aflatoxigenic, while the remaining were aflatoxigenic based on the presence of all aflatoxin biosynthesis genes tested and the productions of aflatoxins B1 and B2. All isolates were also confirmed as A. flavus following phylogenetic analysis. The indigenous non-aflatoxigenic isolates were further examined for their antagonistic potential against aflatoxigenic isolates on 3% grain corn agar. Both non-aflatoxigenic isolates significantly reduced AFB1 production of the aflatoxigenic isolates.

Conclusion: The indigenous non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus strains identified in the present work were effective in controlling the aflatoxin production by the aflatoxigenic A. flavus isolates in vitro and can be utilized for in situ testing.