Biocontrol Potential of Antagonistic Yeasts on In Vitro and In Vivo Growth and Its AFB Production.

is a major aflatoxin B, posing significant health concerns to humans, crops, and producer fungi. Due to the undesirable consequences of the usage of synthetic fungicides, biological control using yeasts has gained more attention. In this study, eight isolates of epiphytic yeasts belonging to sp., sp. and sp., which have been identified as antagonists, were isolated from different plants, including grapes, blueberries, hawthorns, hoşkıran, beans and grape leaf. While volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by DN-FY, aff. DN-MP and aff. 32-AMM reduced in vitro mycelial growth and sporulation, only VOCs produced by aff. 1-UDM were found to be effective at reducing in vitro AFB production. All yeasts reduced the mycelial growth of by 76-91%, while AFB production reduced to 1.26-10.15 ng/g and the control plates' growth was 1773 ng/g. The most effective yeast, aff. DN-HS, reduced growth and aflatoxin B production on hazelnuts. The AFB content on hazelnuts reduced to 333.01 ng/g from 536.74 ng/g. To our knowledge, this is the first report of yeasts isolated from plants being tested as potential biological control agents to reduce AFB production on hazelnuts.