Antifungal activities against toxigenic Fusarium specie and deoxynivalenol adsorption capacity of ion-exchanged zeolites

Abstract

Zeolites are often used as adsorbents materials and their loaded cations can be exchanged with metal ions in order to add antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to use the 4A zeolite and its derived ion-exchanged forms with Zn, Li, Cu and Co in order to evaluate their antifungal properties against Fusarium graminearum, including their capacity in terms of metal ions release, conidia germination and the deoxynivalenol (DON) adsorption. The zeolites ion-exchanged with Li, Cu, and Co showed an excellent antifungal activity against F. graminearum, using an agar diffusion method, with a zone of inhibition observed around the samples of 45.3 ± 0.6 mm, 25.7 ± 1.5 mm, and 24.7 ± 0.6 mm, respectively. Similar results using agar dilution method were found showing significant growth inhibition of F. graminearum for ion-exchanged zeolites with Zn, Li, Cu, and Co. The fungi growth inhibition decreased as zeolite-Cu>zeolite-Li>zeolite-Co>zeolite-Zn. In addition, the conidia germination was strongly affected by ion-exchanged zeolites. With regard to adsorption capacity, results indicate that only zeolite-Li were capable of DON adsorption significantly (P < 0.001) with 37% at 2 mg mL concentration. The antifungal effects of the ion-exchanged zeolites can be ascribed to the interactions of the metal ions released from the zeolite structure, especially for zeolite-Li, which showed to be a promising agent against F. graminearum and its toxin.

Monitoring of Animal Feed Contamination by Mycotoxins: Results of Five Years of Official Control by an Accredited Italian Laboratory

“…In this regard, advanced decontamination strategies for reductions in DON, ZEA, and T-2/HT-2 in feed for swine, poultry, and rabbits should be developed and applied. In this regard, effective treatments for removing/detoxifying DON in animal feed based on ion-exchanged zeolites absorption [ 37 ], Rhodotorula glutinis, B. subtilis ZZ, and other microorganism and enzymatic actions [ 38 , 39 ], and ozone [ 40 ] were reported during recent years [ 41 ]. With regard to ZEA, interesting approaches to its removal from animal feed based on L. plantarum BCC 47723 [ 42 ] and conidia of Aspergillus japonicus [ 43 ] activities were recently published.…”

Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bacillus spp. in a Bio-Detoxification Strategy for Mycotoxin Contaminated Wheat Grains

“…(e.g., F. graminearum, F. culmorum, and F. cerealis) is often found in plants, especially in maize, but also in wheat, barley, and oat [12][13][14][15]. Its macrolide structure has analogies with estrogen and possess immunotoxic properties [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Alternative Control of Phragmidium rubi-idaei Infecting Two Rubus Species

“…Zeolite, a volcanic tuff whose soil improvement capacities were made known in an extensive study led by Mumpton [ 25 ], has other positive agricultural effects subsequently attested, being involved in intensification of soil microbiology and the implicit increase of soil fertility [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Additionally, Zeolite has diverse agricultural uses, being a good candidate for the potentiation of the effects of fertilizers and applied pesticides [ 28 ] and exhibiting antimicrobial and fungicidal properties after enrichment with Ag+, Zn+, and Cu+ ions [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”