Improvement of Biological Control Fungi for Reduction of Aflatoxin Contamination

1. Understand the phylogenetics of aflatoxin production through an examination of the population dynamics of aflatoxigenic and atoxigenic Aspergillus (A.) species in mixed cultures. Determine the potential for restoration of toxigenicity in toxigenic strains of A. flavus and development of toxicity in other species or genera which contain partial aflatoxin gene clusters. 2. Identify A. flavus pathogenicity factors required during invasion of oilseed crops and link these factors to aflatoxin contamination. Identify the critical enzymes that will allow the formulation of viable biological control strategies for a given crop situation.