Agricultural Biotechnology Journal

Agricultural Biotechnology Journal

Combined effects of Ganoderma lucidum filtrate and sodium bicarbonate on the growth and Fumonisin B2 producing Aspergillus niger isolated from bean grains

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Narjis Kadhim Farhood
Abdul Amir S. Saadon
Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq
10.22103/jab.2026.27316.1931
Abstract
Objective
Contamination of food products with mycotoxins represents a serious risk to human health. More than 400 mycotoxins have been reported in food and agriculture products. This research aimed to investigate the combined effects of G. lucidum filtrate and sodium bicarbonate on fungal growth and fumonisin B2-producing A. niger, providing a potential integrated strategy for controlling toxigenic fungi in stored legumes.
Materials and methods
Bean grain fungus isolates were gathered from retail outlets and local markets in Al-Diwaniyah Governorate, Iraq. Molecular approaches like PCR and morphology were used to isolate and identify fungal species. The macroscopic and microscopic aspects of fungal isolates were initially examined. Genomic DNA from Aspergillus niger isolates was extracted. To identify the isolated Aspergillus niger strain, the MaximeTM PCR PreMix (i-Taq) Kit was used. The Poisoned Food Technique was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Ganoderma lucidum filtrate on the radial growth of the toxigenic fungus Aspergillus niger. To evaluate the effect of sodium bicarbonate on the radial growth of Aspergillus niger, three concentrations of sodium bicarbonate 10, 20, and 30 mg/mL were prepared and incorporated into PDA medium. The combined impact of G. lucidum filtrate and sodium bicarbonate on A. niger's dry weight by adding three concentrations of each to PDB medium was studied.
Results
Fumonisin B2 was toxic at 112.6 ppb and 8.7 ppb. A. niger growth and toxicity were suppressed biologically using Ganoderma lucidum filtrate. Fungal growth was suppressed by 69.8% in solid medium and 55.34 percent in liquid media. The chemical treatment of sodium bicarbonate reduced fungal dry biomass by 49.42% in liquid culture and radial growth by 71.4 percent on solid media. The combination treatment inhibited A. niger combined, showing the potential of chemical and biological control techniques.
Conclusion
Overall, the results of this study showed that Ganoderma lucidum filtrate and sodium bicarbonate, individually and in combination, are able to inhibit the growth and reduce the biomass of fumonisin B2-producing Aspergillus niger in vitro. However, the amount of fumonisin B2 production was not examined after the treatments, and therefore a direct relationship between the inhibition of fungal growth and the reduction of toxin production cannot be confirmed. These findings indicate the potential of these compounds as antifungal agents in vitro and require further studies, including safety assessment, mechanism of action, and application in real food systems.
Keywords
Aspergillus niger
fumonisin B2
Ganoderma lucidum
HPLC
sodium bicarbonate
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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 18, Issue 4
Summer 2026
Pages 297-314