Effect of Eggplant Root Extracts on the Growth of Storage Fungi of Wheat Grains and Their Ability for Aflatoxin Production in Babylon Silos in Iraq

Kadhim, I.J., F.H. Kareem and S.H. Segar. 2021. Effect of Eggplant Root Extracts on the Growth of Storage Fungi of Wheat Grains and Their Ability for Aflatoxin Production in Babylon Silos in Iraq. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 39(1): 29-38. Seed-borne fungi adversely affect seed germination and seedling vigor and results in economic loss to farmers. In the present study, the antifungal activity of aqueous and alcohol extracts from eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) roots against fungi isolated from local wheat grains stored in the old Hilla silo and the new Hilla silo in Babylon, Iraq were investigated during the growing season 2017-2018 by using the poisoned food technique. The ability of the isolated fungal species for aflatoxins production was assayed. The results obtained showed that the aqueous extract contained flavonoids, whereas the alcohol extract contained flavonoids and alkaloids. Three fungal species associated with stored wheat grains were isolated, namely: Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum and Fusarium oxysporum. It was found that the extracts had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of these fungi grown on potato dextrose agar medium compared with the control at P=0.05. At a concentration 36 مجلة وقاية النبات العربية، مجلد 39 ،عدد 1( 2021 ) of 10 mg/ml, the alcohol extract had a significantly higher inhibition rate which reached 91.11, 88.88 and 91.11%, on the three fungi, respectively, as compared to 86.66, 86.66 and 83.33% for the aqueous extract, respectively. The results also showed that Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum were able to produce aflatoxins. Keywords: Aflatoxins, alcohol extract, aqueous extract, flavonoids.