Impact of ecophysiological factors on biocontrol of aflatoxin contamination of maize by atoxigenic aspergillus flavus strains

This study has (a) evaluated the biodiversity in toxigenic mycobiota associated with maize from subsistence farmers’ stores in five climatic regions of Lesotho in two seasons, (b) compared the effect of ecophysiological factors on interactions between atoxigenic (AFL-) and toxigenic (AFL+) Aspergillus strains and control of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination of maize, (c) examined the mechanism of action of AFL- strains in relation to mycelial growth rate, sporulation, germination rate, germ tube extension, C-source utilisation patterns and hydrolytic enzymes and (d) examined ecophysiological approaches to enhance competitiveness of the atoxigenic strains. Cont/d.