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

Postharvest Treatments with Three Yeast Strains and Their Combinations to Control Botrytis cinerea of Snap Beans

Three yeast strains, namely Cryptococcus albidus (Ca63), Cryptococcus albidus (Ca64), and Candida parapsilosis (Yett1006), and their combinations, including single yeast agent, two combined yeast strains, single yeast agent + NaHCO₃, single yeast agent + chitosan, single yeast agent + ascorbic acid, and single yeast agent + konjac powder, were evaluated for their activity against Botrytis cinerea, the most economically important fungal pathogens causing postharvest disease of snap beans. In in vitro tests, no inhibition zone was observed in dual cultures of three yeast strains and B. cinerea. The mycelial growth inhibition rates of B. cinerea for Ca63, Ca64, and Yett1006 were 97%, 95%, and 97%, respectively. In in vivo tests, the optimal combination of the lowest disease index of snap beans with B. cinerea was Ca63 + Ca64, with a preventing effect of 75%. The decay rate and rust spots index of Ca64 + ascorbic acid combination were 25% and 20%, respectively, which were the lowest. The activities of defense-related enzymes increased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content was suppressed in snap beans after different treatments. Our results highlight the potential of the three yeast strains and their combinations as new nonpolluting agents for the integrated control of B. cinerea on snap beans.

Aflatoxin M1 contamination level in Iranian milk and dairy products: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aflatoxin M1 is a derivate of aflatoxin B1 and an important contaminant of milk and dairy products. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on relevant Persian and English original articles in national and international databases with no time limits until 1 January 2018. In total 605 articles were found among which 70 articles met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. The prevalence (95% confidence interval (CI)) and mean concentration (95% CI) of aflatoxin M1 was found to be 64% (53-75%) and 39.7 ng/l (31.9-47.4 ng/l) in raw milk, 95% (89-98%) and 62.3 ng/l (40.6-84 ng/l) in pasteurised milk, 71% (56-84%) and 60.1 ng/l (30.9-89.3 ng/l) in sterilised milk, 59% (20-93%) and 5.5 ng/l (3.3-7.7 ng/l) in breast milk and 72% (61-81%) and 82.3 ng/kg (63.7-100.9 ng/kg) in dairy products. In general, 9% (4-16%) of milks and 10% (4-17%) of dairy products had aflatoxin M1 in concentrations exceeding the permitted level of Iranian standards (500 ng/l). Based on the maximum permitted aflatoxin M1 concentration in standards of Europe (50 ng/l), these percentages increase to 25% (18-32%) for milks and 18% (9-29%) for dairy products. According to the results, further control and preventive measures should be applied on livestock feeds because decreased aflatoxin B1 contamination at this level results in decreased aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products.