Biocontrol of Colletotrichum falcatum Causing Red Rot Disease of Sugarcane Using Non-toxigenic Aspergillus sp.

Red rot disease caused by Colletotrichum falcatum is a major production threat to several sugarcane varieties in Thailand. Biological control an ecologically friendly alternative manage the using microbial antagonism and associated metabolic products. In this study, four Aspergillus non-toxigenic strains (A37, A374, A400, A561) were characterized genetic approach evaluated for their antagonistic potential suppress growth of C. falcatum. The strain A561 had maximum number gene deletions, with 12 afl atoxin-producing genes being lost. addition, characteristic was confi rmed atoxin B1 (AFB1) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. reduced concentration AFB1 98.57% (1.63 μg/kg) relative toxigenic control. activity against competition plate method on potato dextrose agar (PDA) vitro. results revealed that inhibited mycelial 34.39%. 10% (v/v) culture fi ltrate PDA produced inhibition 53.21%. Non-toxigenic antifungal potential, suppressing