Argentine researchers develop biofungicide against mycotoxins

Date:02-28-2025

Argentine researchers have made progress in developing a biological product to control mycotoxin-producing fungi that affect stored grains. The research team comprises professionals from INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology), Conicet (National Council for Scientific and Technical Research), and the University of Buenos Aires.

The project's innovation lies in its ability to replace or enhance agrochemical action through a natural plant-based product. This development comes at a time when millions of tons of cereals suffer deterioration due to fungi that cause yield losses and grain quality alterations, resulting in serious economic damage.

Among these fungi is Aspergillus flavus, a filamentous and saprophytic fungus that primarily colonizes cereal grains and oilseeds after harvest. This situation led the research team to focus on finding new alternatives. The project emerged proposing the development of a bioinput or natural fungicide derived from an extract of a native plant called Peltophorum dubium.

"Fungi are ubiquitous organisms capable of adapting and surviving extremely disadvantageous situations," said Lucía Di Ciaccio, a researcher at INTA-Conicet's Veterinary Pathobiology Institute. She added: "The Aspergillus genus is present in the environment, agricultural production, and plantations; under favorable conditions, they produce mycotoxins that lead to diseases and economic losses."

"Aspergillus flavus can grow on different substrates and under a wide range of conditions, but especially during storage," explained Renée Fortunato, director of the Darwinion Institute, who highlighted that harvested grains contain abundant spores from the field that remain during transport and storage.

"If storage conditions are inadequate, the grain can deteriorate and mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins, can form," Fortunato explained. She emphasized that "these toxins are known for their high toxicity to both humans and animals, as they can cause functional, biochemical, or morphological alterations."

The research project, based on the native species Peltophorum dubium (common name, Ibira pitá), has shown promising results. Through various studies, researchers identified a plant extract with antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus from the leaves of this native tree from the country's north, belonging to the Fabaceae family.

"The data obtained from different in vitro bioassays indicate that the extract has antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus," said the INTA researcher, describing that the activity is more fungistatic, inhibiting fungal growth and development, primarily targeting fungal cell walls.

The next research phase involves developing a prototype for transfer to the agroindustrial sector, specifically in post-harvest grain management, where there is high demand for new antifungal products. The initiative also aims to promote sustainable economic production management of plant resources with social inclusion while considering the conservation of wild genetic resource populations and their habitat.

According to Di Ciaccio, "This proposal will be transferable to the agroindustrial sector with direct and indirect benefits for human and animal health as well as the environment. The product can be used directly and also combine activities (synergism) with other synthetic antifungals existing in the market."

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)