OZONE TREATMENT EFFICIENCY IN ASPERGILLUS AND PENICILLIUM GROWTH INHIBITION AND MYCOTOXIN DEGRADATION OF STORED WHEAT GRAINS (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

The efficacy of ozone (O-3) gas treatment to inhibit the strains growth of Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum and of aflatoxin and citrinin (CTR) to degrade in wheat grains were evaluated. The tests were performed in laboratory pilot silos containing grains artificially contaminated by these fungi or mycotoxins. Briefly, the samples were divided into control groups (no O-3 gas) and O-3-treated groups (40 and 60 mu mol/mol), which were exposed for 30, 60, 120 and 180 min. In the highest concentration of O-3 exposure (60 mu mol/mol), A. flavus and P. citrinum showed complete growth inhibition after 180 min. In addition, regarding the same O-3 exposure, the AFB(1) and AFB(2) levels were significantly reduced (12.51 and 41.06 mu g/kg) when compared with control (231.88 and 265.79 mu g/kg). Moreover, the CTR levels were significantly decreased after O-3 treatment in both concentrations (40 and 60 mu mol/mol) after 180 min of O-3 exposure (103.64 and 42.90 mu g/kg) when compared with control group (146.85 and 173.51 mu g/kg).