Integrated strategies for the control of moulding in grain

Attempts to prevent moulding and mycotoxin production in stored grain have mostly emphasised control of one factor. Management strategies that integrate environmental, physical and chemical methods for preventing moulding might enable less extreme use of any one method. Such treatments may need to include measures for the control of moulding and mycotoxins even before the crop reaches store. In laboratory experiments with a range of seed types, combined irradiation and propionic acid treatments, with both 1 kGy + 0.1% propionic acid and 0.5 kGy + 0.3% propionic acid, controlled moulding better than any of the component treatments. Superficial seed lipids, that control aflatoxin production by A. flavus, were little affected by the irradiation. A collaborative study, funded by the European Economic Community, is seeking to develop systems for using combined treatments that can be applied on farms, especially in developing countries.