2 7 Competitive Exclusion of Aflatoxin Producers: Farmer-driven Research and Development

Overview: Aflatoxins are highly toxic, cancer-causing chemicals produced by fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus flavus is the most important causal agent of crop aflatoxin contamination. We developed a strategy for preventing aflatoxin contamination based on the use of naturally occurring isolates of A. flauus that lack aflatoxinproducing ability (atoxigenic strains). The atoxigenic strains displace aflatoxin producers during crop development and infection and thereby reduce contamination. Although significant single-season effects are achieved, the greatest potential is for long-term and area-wide influences. This chapter discusses the histroy of development and commercialization of atoxigenic strains.