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The Interaction between Tribolium castaneum and Mycotoxigenic Aspergillus flavus in Maize Flour
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Simple Summary: It is important to hold cereals in storage conditions that exclude insect pests such
as the red flour beetle and fungi, especially mycotoxin-producing ones (as a few strains of Aspergillus
flavus). This work aims to investigate the interaction between these two organisms when thriving in
maize flour. It was observed that when both organisms were together, the mycotoxins detected in
maize flour were far higher than when the fungi were on their own, suggesting that the presence of
insects may contribute positively to fungi development and mycotoxin production. The insects in
contact with the fungi were almost all dead at the end of the trials, suggesting a negative effect of the
fungi growth on the insects. Both organisms interacted when in contact. This is the first study on this
issue, although further investigation would benefit from clarification on the mechanisms leading to
the nature of the detected interactions.
Abstract: Tribolium castaneum is one of the most common insect pests of stored products. Its presence makes cereals more susceptible to the spread of the fungi Aspergillus flavus, which may produce mycotoxins. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of T. castaneum adults on the development of a mycotoxigenic A. flavus strain in maize flour as well as the influence of this fungus on the insects. Maize flour was exposed to T. castaneum, spores of A. flavus or to both. The results revealed an interaction between T. castaneum and A. flavus as the flour exposed to both organisms was totally colonized by the fungus whereas almost all the insects were killed. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) revealed a significantly higher concentration in the flour inoculated with both organisms (18.8 µg/kg), being lower when exposed only to A. flavus, suggesting that the presence of insects may trigger fungal development and enhance mycotoxin production. The ability of these organisms to thrive under the same conditions and the chemical compounds they release makes the interaction between them a subject of great importance to maintain the safety of stored maize. This is the first work evaluating the interaction between T. castaneum and A. flavus mycotoxin production.
Abstract: Tribolium castaneum is one of the most common insect pests of stored products. Its presence makes cereals more susceptible to the spread of the fungi Aspergillus flavus, which may produce mycotoxins. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of T. castaneum adults on the development of a mycotoxigenic A. flavus strain in maize flour as well as the influence of this fungus on the insects. Maize flour was exposed to T. castaneum, spores of A. flavus or to both. The results revealed an interaction between T. castaneum and A. flavus as the flour exposed to both organisms was totally colonized by the fungus whereas almost all the insects were killed. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) revealed a significantly higher concentration in the flour inoculated with both organisms (18.8 µg/kg), being lower when exposed only to A. flavus, suggesting that the presence of insects may trigger fungal development and enhance mycotoxin production. The ability of these organisms to thrive under the same conditions and the chemical compounds they release makes the interaction between them a subject of great importance to maintain the safety of stored maize. This is the first work evaluating the interaction between T. castaneum and A. flavus mycotoxin production.
Description
This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Entomology.
Keywords
Aspergillus flavus Aflatoxin B1 Maize Flour Tribolium castaneum Food Safety Segurança Alimentar Composição dos Alimentos
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Insects. 2021 Aug 14;12(8):730. doi: 10.3390/insects12080730
Publisher
MDPI