Browsing by Author "Nandutu, Brenda"

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    In vitro antagonistic activity of Trichoderma longibrachiatum against aspergillus flavus towards management of mycotoxins
    (Busitema University, 2026) Nandutu, Brenda
    Mycotoxin contamination, particularly aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus flavus, poses a significant threat to global food security and public health. This study investigated the in vitro antagonistic potential of Trichoderma longibrachiatum as a biological control agent against A. flavus. The research was conducted using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The antagonistic activity was evaluated using the dual culture technique on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). Results indicated that T. longibrachiatum significantly suppressed the radial growth of A. flavus, achieving a Percentage Inhibition of Radial Growth (PIRG) of 45.56% within 72 hours of incubation. To determine the underlying mechanism of inhibition, the culture filtrate of T. longibrachiatum was analyzed using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Metabolic profiling identified over 100 bioactive compounds, including potent antifungal cyclic dipeptides such as Cyclo (L-Val-L Pro) and Cyclo(L-Trp-L-Pro), alongside organic acids and terpenes like Nerolidol. These findings suggest that the inhibition is driven by a combination of rapid spatial competition and the secretion of a complex of secondary metabolites (antibiosis). The study concludes that T. longibrachiatum is a promising, sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides for managing A. flavus and reducing mycotoxin risks in agricultural value chains. Keywords: Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Aspergillus flavus, Biocontrol, Aflatoxins, LC-MS, Antibiosis.