Efficacy of Bitter Plant Extracts (Azadirachta indica) on Seed Germination, Chlorophyll and Carotenoid Synthesis in Mycotoxin Especially Aflatoxin B1 Treated Maize Seeds (Zea mays L.)

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crop plants. It can be used in cooked, roasted, fried ground, crushed to prepare various food items like Kurkure, Popcorn, Corn syrup, Corn sauce, Cornmeal as well as it also useful as medicines and as raw materials for industries. Due to Climatic changes, it has been reported as a driver for emerging food and feed safety. This toxic infection result reduces grain quality due to contamination of maize seeds with the mycotoxin especially aflatoxin. One of the most effective ways to control the problems caused by aflatoxins due to prevent the growth of seed germination. Bitter plants like Azadirachta indica is one of the medicinal plants having antifungal or antimicrobial properties. Our findings reveals that the maximum inhibition in seed germination were 76.56 % on maize at 2ppm concentration of AFT- B1. Also reports shows that, the minimum inhibitions in seed germination were recorded in chl a, chl b, Total chl a+b and carotenoids were 9.75, 22.22, 9.83 and 47.51 in maize seedlings due to treatment of AFT- B1 with A. indica at 2 mg/ml concentration. Ultimately Azadirachta indica extracts reduce the inhibitory properties of AFT-B1 produced by A. flavus. Furthermore, the bitter plant like A. indica investigated in the present study may provide potential leads for novel bioactive. This will ultimately lead to substantial, financial returns to the farmers as these Bitter plant like Azadirachta indica.

Kumari Ragni*1 and Gajendra Prasad2 Click here to download file

Research Article | Published online : 01-Dec-2022