BIOCONTROL-A · Biocontrol of Aflatoxin Contamination Using Atoxigenic Strains from Almond and Pistachio Orchards
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-09-01 → 2019-05-31
- EU contribution
- €235,675
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-GF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Biocontrol of Aflatoxin Contamination Using Atoxigenic Strains from Almond and Pistachio Orchards
Aflatoxin contamination of essential crops caused by Aspergillus flavus and closely-related fungal species frequently occur in warm agricultural areas. Aflatoxin affects health, trade, and development sectors of affected nations. Because these fungi are ordinary soil residents of almond and pistachio orchards, and their spores are spread using the air currents, these nuts are a source of human exposure to aflatoxin According to data provided by the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF, 2019), aflatoxins are currently responsible for most mycotoxins alerts reported in the European Union (Figure 1). Application of atoxigenic (not producing aflatoxins) strains of A. flavus has successfully reduced crop aflatoxin-contamination in USA and Africa, and recently in Italy. In California, the atoxigenic strains AF36 is applied by the farmers as sorghum seeds colonized by this atoxigenic strain using the registered compound AF36 Prevail®. This biological control strategy uses endemic atoxigenic A. flavus strains, considered best adapted, to displace the AF-producing fungi. Unfortunately, EU nut farmers do not have any benefit of this type of biological control technology since there are no registered atoxigenic strains in these crops. The aim of the European phase (in Spain and Italy) of the present project was to identify native biological control strains and develop mechanistic models for understanding the biological control process. The expected results will have a positive effect on improving food safety and the environment and securing economic benefits to EU farmers and agri-food industries.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Aflatoxins (AF), the most toxic and carcinogenic compounds among the mycotoxins, are mainly produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Because these fungi are common soil residents of almond and pistachio orchards, these nuts are one of the main sources of human exposure to AF. The consumption of almond and pistachio has increased in recent years in the European Union (EU) due to their positive effects on the consumers’ health. Spain has the largest area (587.000 ha) under almond cultivation after USA and its pistachio growing-area is exponentially expanding. Contaminated batches of Spanish nuts by AFs have been frequently detected. Application of atoxigenic strains of A. flavus has successfully reduced crop AF-contamination in the USA and Africa. This biological control strategy uses endemic atoxigenic A. flavus strains, considered best adapted, to displace the AF-producing fungi. Unfortunately, EU farmers do not have the benefit of this type of biological control technology since there are not registered atoxigenic strains in this area. The aim of current project is to: i) improve substrate and application methods of atoxigenic A. flavus; ii) select new biological control agents for their patent and future registration in EU and USA; and iii) construct mechanistic models of risk for AF-contamination. The expected results will have a positive impact improving food safety and the environment and securing economic benefits to EU farmers and agri-food industries. In addition, this project supports capacity building, provides the foundation to the fellow in pursuing his independent scientific career and strengthens collaboration with research groups from EU and USA, three small-medium enterprises (SEMs), and a spin-off company.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSIDAD DE CORDOBA · CORDOBACoordinatorSpain
- THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA · OaklandUnited States
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/658579
- http://www.uco.es/internacional/proyectosinternacionales/conoce-nuestros-proyectos/
Data: CORDIS, © European Union