Inhibition of fungal mycelial growth and mycotoxin production using ZnO@mSiO2 nanocomposite during maize storage

Fungal contamination and mycotoxin production pose significant challenges to maize preservation. In response, we developed ZnO@SiO 2 nanocomposite, with zinc oxide nanoparticles as the core and mesoporous silica encapsulation. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) confirmed uniform morphology and good dispersion. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses validated the successful fabrication. Assessing the mycelial growth and mycotoxin production of Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium graminearum , two predominant fungi during maize storage, Significant inhibition by the nanocomposites was observed in both maize flour medium and sterile kernels. In maize flour, it suppressed A. flavus and F. graminearum toxin production by over 64.11% and 80.53%, respectively. In maize kernels, DON, ZEN, AFB 1 , AFB 2 , AFG 1 , and AFG 2 toxins were all inhibited by over 81.3%. Nanocomposite's effectiveness endured in practical storage, with inhibition rates exceeding 72.03% at an addition concentration of 3.0 g/kg. These findings suggest nanocomposite as a promising tool for mitigating mycotoxin contamination during maize storage, with implications for food safety enhancement.