Three Ecological Models to Evaluate the Effectiveness of spp. for Suppressing Aflatoxigenic and .

Chemical pesticides help reduce crop loss during production and storage. However, the carbon footprints and ecological costs associated with this strategy are unsustainable. Here, we used three in vitro models to characterize how different species interact with two aflatoxin producers, and , to help develop a climate-resilient biological control strategy against aflatoxigenic species. The growth rate of species is a critical factor in suppressing aflatoxigenic strains via physical interactions. The dual plate assay suggests that mainly suppresses via antibiosis, whereas the suppression of occurs through mycoparasitism. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by inhibited the growth of (34.6 ± 3.3%) and (20.9 ± 1.6%). The VOCs released by BTU and OSK-34 were most effective in suppressing growth. Metabolites secreted by OSK-38, BTU, OSK-13, and OSK-36 reduced the growth of both aflatoxigenic species. Overall, BTU was the most effective at suppressing the growth and aflatoxin B1 production of both species across all models. This work will guide efforts to screen for effective biological control agents to mitigate aflatoxin accumulation.