Avaliação do potencial de BSB15 associado ao cloreto de sódio para o controle de fusariose em grãos de milho.

Abstract

Food spoilage often occurs by micro-organisms, such as fungi, which are responsible for serious losses in production and health problems related to the consumption of these contaminated foods. Fusarium is one of the main genera of mycotoxigenic fungi causing several damages in food matrix, in which the contamination of corn kernels is an example. As a result, research involving the use of natural products to control fungi in food has been shown to be a viable alternative to the usual chemical preservatives. The present study evaluated the antifungal potential of BSB15 (sesquiterpene), also when associated to Sodium Chloride (NaCl), from the determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of both substances by microdilution techniques, which then allowed further tests in vivo, and thus the observation of its effects against fusariosis on corn grains for human and animal consumption. The determination of the CIM of BSB15 and NaCl made it possible to quantify its activities against the strains of Fusarium oxysporum, where it was also observed the interference that they caused in the mycelial growth (radial mycelial growth) of the fungal species. Tests involving the artificial contamination of corn grains were carried out against different concentrations of BSB15 and NaCl isolated and associated, since this grain presents as an excellent energetic and nutritional source, and is very susceptible to contamination by Fusarium, in this way, before the BSB15 was effective in the control of F. oxysporum, especially when associated with NaCl, with significant synergism between them. Even in the in vivo assays, it is possible that some interferers of the grain itself caused resistance of F. oxysporum or even reduction in the efficiency of BSB15, even when associated to NaCl, requiring higher concentrations of the natural product and salt to obtain the protective effect of the food matrix. BSB15 and NaCl were efficient even in their subinhibitory values, when associated.