Assessment of mycoflora associated with stored soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) and mitigation with ozone treatment.

This study evaluates the extent of fungal contamination in stored soybean seeds collected from wholesale shops which were of different varieties with varying moisture content. Fungal presence was assessed using modified International Seed Testing Association (ISTA, 2023) protocols employing both blotter and agar plate techniques. Results revealed that a high prevalence of fungal association was detected in Sample A which may be due to its moisture content. The fungal isolates obtained from the soybean seed samples were further screened for the detection of aflatoxin production and 14.9% of the isolates (Sample A & Sample B) were observed to be positive. These findings highlight the serious impact of sub-optimal storage conditions and transportation, where fungal contamination not only reduces seed quality but also leads to toxin production. Therefore, effective mitigation strategies are crucial for reducing fungal growth and aflatoxin production. Ozone treatment used in this study has shown high efficiency in the reduction of the fungal contamination. This work emphasizes the need for mitigation methods such as ozone treatment and regular seed health monitoring to maintain soybean seed quality and support sustainable production in India.