The inhibitory effect of mistletoe extract on the growth and sporulation of Aspergillus flavus in laboratory conditions

Subject Areas : Agroecology Journal

Siamak Salahi ¹ (Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Miyaneh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Miyaneh, Iran.)

Received: 2023-12-15 Accepted : 2023-12-15 Published : 2021-11-22

Keywords: Aflatoxin, Aspergillus flavus, antimicrobial effect, Inhibitory effect, Viscum album,

Abstract :

Nearly 20 to 45 percent of the world's grains were exposed to mycotoxins produced by the fungus. Aspergillus flavus is one of the fungi that cause widespread contamination of crops and warehouse products. In this research, the antifungal activity of different extracts of the semi-parasitic mistletoe (Viscum album) plant on the growth and sporulation of Aspergillus flavus in laboratory conditions based on completely random design with three replications was evaluated. Various solvents including acetone, ethanol, methanol and water were used to extract mistletoe leaves and buds. Antifungal activity of the extracts was performed by diffusion method on the surface of agar. Each of the extracts including 0 (control), 2, 20, 200 and 2000 microliters per 20 milliliters were added to medium and colony growth and sporulation of fungi were evaluated. All experimental treatments showed a significant effect on mycelium growth and sporulation of Aspergillus flavus compared to control at 5% level. Methanol extract in 2000 microliters had the most effect on fungi growth and sporulation, and mistletoe water extract showed the least effect. Moreover, acetone extract in 2000 microliters, inhibited sporulation by 99 %. It can be concluded that the methanol extract of mistletoe can be a more effective antifungal agent to inhibit the growth and sporulation of Aspergillus flavus than other solvents