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

Authors

Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

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 26 Fusarium isolates, including F. verticillioides (n=6), F. proliferatum
(n=18), F. solani (n=1), and F. oxysporum (n=1), in the presence of 42 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 22°C, using ELISA technique. For data analysis, paired t-test was performed, using
SPSS version 20
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 <0.05). The percentage of mycelial growth inhibition ranged from
56.36% to 74.54%. The minimum and maximum decline in total fumonisin production was 12% and 78%, 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


Volume 2, Issue 1
March 2016
Pages 1-6
  • Receive Date: 09 July 2019
  • Revise Date: 05 November 2020
  • Accept Date: 09 July 2019
  • Publish Date: 01 March 2016