Abstract
Preharvest seed infection byAspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in selected groundnut genotypes (fourA. flavus-resistant and fourA. flavus-susceptible) were examined in different soil types at several locations in India in 1985–1990. Undamaged mature pods were sampled at harvest and seed examined forA. flavus infection and aflatoxin content in two or more trials at ICRISAT Center on light sandy soils and red sandy loam soils (Alfisols), and on Vertisols, at Anantapur on light sandy soils, and at Dharwad and Parbhani on Vertisols. Rainy season trials (1985–1989) were all rainfed. Post-rainy season trials were irrigated; late-season drought stress (90 days after sowing (DAS) until harvest at 125 DAS) was imposed in the 1987/88 and 1989/90 seasons.A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination levels were much lower in seed of all genotypes from Vertisols than in seed from Alfisols across locations and seasons. Vertisols also had significantly lower populations ofA. flavus than Alfisols. There were no marked differences between light sandy soils and red sandy loam soils (Alfisols) in respect of seed infection byA. flavus and aflatoxin contamination. Significant interactions between genotypes and soil types were evident, especially in theA. flavus-susceptible genotypes. Irrespective of soil types,A. flavus-resistant genotypes showed lower levels of seed infection byA. flavus and other fungi than didA. flavus-susceptible genotypes. The significance of the low preharvest aflatoxin risk in groundnuts grown on Vertisols is highlighted.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blaney B J 1985 Mycotoxins in crops grown in different climatic regions of Queensland.In Trichothecenes and Other Mycotoxins. Ed. J Lacey. pp 97–108. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Davidson J I, Hill R A, Cole R J, Mixon A C and Henning R J 1983 Field performance of two peanut cultivars relative to aflatoxin contamination. Peanut Sci. 10, 43–47.
Dickens J W 1977 Aflatoxin occurrence and control during growth, harvest and storage of peanuts.In Mycotoxins in Human and Animal Health. Eds. J V Rodricks, C W Hesseltine and M Mehlman. pp 99–105. Pathotox Publishers, Inc., IL.
Graham J C 1982 Preharvest aflatoxin contamination in Queensland peanuts. Queenland Department of Primary Industries Bulletin QB82001, Brisbane, Australia. 37 p.
Griffin G J and Garren K H 1976 Colonization of rye green manure and peanut fruit debris byAspergillus flavus andAspergillus niger group in field soils. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 32, 28–32.
Manzo S K and Misari S M 1989 Status and management of aflatoxin in groundnuts in Nigeria.In Aflatoxin Contamination of Groundnut: Proceedings of the International Workshop. Eds., D McDonald and V K Mehan. pp 77–90. 6–9 Oct 1987, ICRISAT Center, India. Patancheru, A.P. 502 324, India.
Mehan V K, McDonald D and Rajagopalan K 1987 Resistance of peanut genotypes to seed infection byAspergillus flavus in field trials in India. Peanut Sci. 14, 17–21.
Mehan V K, McDonald D, Ramakrishna N and Williams J H 1986 Effects of genotype and date of harvest on infection of peanut seed byAspergillus flavus and subsequent contamination with aflatoxin. Peanut Sci. 13, 46–50.
Pettit R E, Taber R A, Schroeder H W and Harrison A L 1971 Influence of fungicides and irrigation practice on aflatoxin in peanuts before digging. Appl. Microbiol. 22, 629–634.
Pons W A, Cucullu A F, Lee L S, Franz A O and Goldblatt L A 1966 Determination of aflatoxins in agricultural products: Use of aqueous acetone for extraction. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 49, 554–562.
Sanders T H, Cole R J, Blankenship P D and Hill R A 1985 Relation of environmental stress duration toAspergillus flavus invasion and aflatoxin production in preharvest peanuts. Peanut Sci. 12, 90–93.
Sanders T H, Hill R A, Cole R J and Blankenship P D 1981 Effect of drought on occurrence ofAspergillus flavus in maturing peanuts. J. Am. Oil. Chem. Soc. 58, 966A-970A.
Virmani S M and Singh P 1986 Agroclimatological characteristics of the groundnut-growing regions in the semi-arid tropics.In Agrometeorology of Groundnut. Eds. M V K Sivakumar and S M Virmani. pp 35–45, 21–26 Aug 1985, ICRISAT Sahelian Center, Niamey, Niger.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
ICRISAT Journal Article No. JA 1122
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mehan, V.K., Mayee, C.D., Jayanthi, S. et al. Preharvest seed infection byAspergillus flavus group fungi and subsequent aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts in relation to soil types. Plant Soil 136, 239–248 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02150055
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02150055