Some Aspects of the Biological Control of Seed Storage Fungi

Abstract

Under storage conditions of ambient temperature and relative humidity in South Africa, Fusarium moniliforme and Aspergillus flavus proliferate. Both fungal species are generally toxigenic under local storage conditions. The rural community chooses visibly mouldy maize for beer-making: such infected maize often contains high levels of mycotoxins which may be associated with prevalence of oesophageal cancer in certain areas. The aim of this investigation is to ascertain the feasibility of using Trichoderma species as a biocontrol agent against seed-associated pathogenic aspergilli and fusaria.