Rhamnolipids effect on mycotoxins production

Abstract

[Excerpt] Contamination of foodstuffs and agriculture commodities by mycotoxin-producing fungi is an increasingly severe problem, not only due to the substantial economic losses caused by the significant reductions in crop yield, but also to their toxicity to humans and animals. Mycotoxins are a heterogeneous group of extremely toxic secondary metabolites synthesized by certain filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus spp. that exhibit carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic activities. Consequently, maximum allowable concentrations of mycotoxins in food and feed have been established. Several strategies including chemical, physical and biological methods have been investigated to reduce fungal and mycotoxins contamination in crops. Among them, biological control is one of the most promising approaches to overcome mycotoxins contamination in both pre- and post-harvested crops. [...]