The antagonistic effects of Candida parapsilosis on the growth of Fusarium species and fumonisin production

Background and Purpose: Fusarium species are avid producers of secondary toxic and carcinogenic metabolites such as fumonisin. Contamination of food and feed products with fumonisin can be hazardous to the health of humans and animals and may lead to agricultural loss. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of Candida parapsilosis on the growth and fumonisin production of Fusarium species Materials & Methods: Mycelial growth rate of ۲۶ Fusarium isolates, including F. verticillioides (n=۶), F. proliferatum (n=۱۸), F. solani (n=۱), and F. oxysporum (n=۱), in the presence of ۴۲ C. parapsilosis strains was investigated by pourplate method. The decline in fumonisin production was measured in co-cultured fungi in coarsely ground maize after four weeks of incubation in the dark at ۲۲°C, using ELISA technique. For data analysis, paired t-test was performed, using SPSS version ۲۰ Results: The mycelial growth and fumonisin production of Fusarium isolates significantly decreased in the presence of C parapsilosis in comparison with the control cultures (p <۰.۰۵). The percentage of mycelial growth inhibition ranged from ۵۶.۳۶% to ۷۴.۵۴%. The minimum and maximum decline in total fumonisin production was ۱۲% and ۷۸%, respectively F. oxysporum and F. solani were found to be minor fumonisin producers among the studied Fusarium species. On the other hand, a decline was reported in the growth of Fusarium species and fumonisin production in the presence of C parapsilosis Conclusion: C. parapsilosis showed notable inhibitory activities against Fusarium isolates. Therefore, this fungal species could be considered as a biocontrol agent against the growth and fumonisin production of toxigenic Fusarium species in the future

Keywords:

Biocontrol , Candida , ELISA , Fumonisins , Fusarium , Mycotoxin