AUTHOR=Li Ting , Chen Mingyang , Ren Guangxi , Hua Guodong , Mi Jiu , Jiang Dan , Liu Chunsheng 

TITLE=Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil From Zanthoxylum armatum DC. on Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins in Stored Platycladi Semen

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.633714

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.633714

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The major objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of essential oil (EO) from <italic>Zanthoxylum armatum</italic> DC. on <italic>Aspergillus flavus</italic>. The chemical composition of the EO was identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometer. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EO was investigated by liquid fermentation. The morphology, colony number, and aflatoxin content of <italic>A. flavus</italic> in platycladi semen were investigated by stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, plate counting, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The results indicated that the MIC of EO was 0.8 μL⋅mL<sup>–1</sup>, and the main components were β-phellandrene (7.53%), <sc>D</sc>-limonene (13.24%), linalool (41.73%), terpinen-4-ol (5.33%), and <italic>trans</italic>-nerolidol (6.30%). After the EO fumigated the platycladi semen, the growth of <italic>A. flavus</italic> slowed, and the mycelium shrank considerably. The number of colonies after EO treatment at room temperature and cold storage was significantly reduced, the inhibition effect was better under cold storage, and the aflatoxin B1 content did not exceed the standard within 100 days. Therefore, this study demonstrated the good potential of <italic>A. flavus</italic> growth inhibition during the storage of platycladi semen.</p>