Atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus isolates endemic to almond, fig, and pistachio orchards in California with potential to reduce aflatoxin contamination of these crops
| Main Authors: | Ortega-Beltran, A., Moral, J., PIcot, A., Puckett, R., Cotty, P., Michailides, T. J. |
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| Format: | Article eJournal |
| Terbitan: |
, 2019
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| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/3463318 |
Daftar Isi:
- Abstract. In California, aflatoxin contamination of almond, fig, and pistachio has become a serious problem in recent years due to long periods of drought and probably other climatic changes. The atoxigenic biocontrol product Aspergillus flavus AF36 has been registered for use to limit aflatoxin contamination of pistachio since 2012 and for use in almond and fig since 2017. New biocontrol technologies employ multiple atoxigenic genotypes because those provide greater benefits than using a single genotype. Almond, fig, and pistachio industries would benefit from a multi-strain biocontrol technology for use. Several A. flavus vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) associated with almond, fig, and pistachio composed exclusively of atoxigenic isolates, including the VCG to which AF36 belongs to, YV36, were previously characterized in California. Here we report additional VCGs associated with two or the three crops. Representative isolates of 12 atoxigenic VCGs significantly (P < 0.001) reduced ( > 80%) aflatoxin accumulation in almond and pistachio when challenged with highly toxigenic isolates of A. flavus and A. parasiticus. Isolates of the evaluated VCGs, including AF36, constitute valuable endemic, well adapted, and efficient germplasm to design a multi-crop, multi-strain biocontrol strategy for use in tree crops in California. Availability of such strategy would favor long-term atoxigenic A. flavus communities across the affected areas of California and this would result in securing domestic and export markets for the nut crop and fig farmer industries and most importantly health benefits to consumers.