Bacterial endophyte isolated from corn kernels inhibits the growth of a fumonisin producing Fusarium verticillioides

Strains of Fusarium verticillioides produce mycotoxins such as fumonisins, which are common contaminants of maize and maize-based products worldwide and considered to be hazardous for human and animal health, due to their nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, immunosuppressive and carcinogenic activity (references cited in Butron et al. 2006, Dalie et al. 2012). Biological control of Fusarium infection is therefore of great interest for food safety and could contribute towards reducing the use of toxic chemicals with fungicide activity. Many plant-associated bacteria, both epiphytes and endophytes, are widely recognized as agents of biological control against plant diseases and infections (Compant et al. 2010). Numerous phylogenetically diverse bacterial strains showing inhibitory activity against different fungi have been isolated (Bacon & Hinton 2002, Compant et al. 2005, Dalie et al. 2010, McSpadden Gardener 2007, Yoshida et al. 2012).