The antagonist effect of 2-phynel ethyl acetate and ethyl acetate against growth of Aspergillus flavus in wheat

Abstract

Wheat is an important agricultural products in the world. Wheat is the main ingredient in many feedstuffs and is used as a feed stock to produce ethanol. Aspergillus flavus is a pathogenic and saprotrophic fungus that produce aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Aflatoxin B1 is known as a carcinogenic compound. This toxin has been reported to contaminate crops, mainly corn, cotton, peanuts, wheat and tree nuts. It was the main goal of the present study to evaluate the antifungal activity of 2- phenyl ethyl acetate and ethyl acetate against growth of Aspergillus flavus. Eleven samples of dry wheat were collected from markets and stores in Tulkarem city in Palestine and were tested for their contamination with A. flavus. Two isolates of A. flavus were detected in wheat samples, culture technique (coconut agar media CAM) were used. One of the fungal isolates was found to produce aflatoxin B1, while the other did not produce aflatoxin B1. Different concentrations of 2-phenyl ethyl acetate and ethyl acetate were examined against growth of A. flavus. It was found that 2-phynel ethyl acetate was effective in reducing A. flavus growth. Growth of A. flavus was reduced by 2-phynel ethyl acetate at concentrations of 62.9, 78.4 and 93.9 μg/L. At a lower concentration of 2-phynel ethyl acetate, growth of A. flavus was reduced and the color of fungal colonies changed from green to white indicating a change in its metabolic activities. Ethyl acetate was found to have very weak effect on fungal growth. The findings of the present study demonstrated the potential use of 2-phenyl ethyl acetate as a preservative in wheat against fungal growth and production of aflatoxin B1, As well as the possibility of using CAM culture technique as a cheap, good and available method in the Developing countries.