Mycotoxin management in maize (Zea mays (L.)) damaged by Lepidopteran pests

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites that pose health risk to both animals and humans. Feeding damage caused Lepidopteran pests is believed to facilitate fungal infection increasing the risk of high fungal infection. The use of atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus strains is believed to be effective at reducing the contamination of aflatoxin and fumonisin. This study was conducted to evaluate the application timing based on growth stages of AF-36 and Afla-Guard. Treatments included an untreated control, insect control, AF-36 and Afla-Guard applied at the V8 and VT growth stage and Afla-Guard applied at the V8 and VT growth stage with insect control, arranged in a randomized complete block design replicated four times. The concentration of fumonisin was not significantly affected by the biocontrol products, but was significantly reduced by the insecticide applications (P= 0.029 and P