Abstract:In order to understand the role of ROS in the citral-induced inhibition of aflatoxin production, ROS released from Aspergillus flavus, intracellular ROS level, activities of anti-oxidative enzymes (CAT, SOD and GSH-Px) and oxidative damage of protein and lipids were studied. It is observed that with citral treatment the concentration of intracellular ROS and the activity of anti-oxidative enzymes increase as well as the MDA and protein carbonyl contents. The results also showed that the concentration of aflatoxin declined and the cell membrane of Aspergillus flavus was damaged significantly after stimulated by citral. Based on the results, the mechanism for citral-induced inhibition of aflatoxin production in Aspergillus flavus, which involves the generation of ROS, formation of intracellular oxidative stress and oxidative damages of biomolecules, was proposed. And this study made fundamental knowledge for using citral in cereals storage.