Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biocontrol of Aspergillus flavus in groundnut using Trichoderma harzianum stain kd

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pre-harvest infection of groundnut (Arachis hypogea) during drought stress by strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus is a major health and food safety concern worldwide. The fungi release aflatoxins, which are carcinogenic and hepatotoxic at levels of parts per billion. In this study, a formulated biocontrol agent, Trichoderma harzianum strain kd (Tkd), was used to control Aspergillus flavus infection of groundnut in the field. Groundnut seeds treated with Tkd developed more root biomass than the control (untreated with Tkd). Growth of Trichoderma mycelium from sterilized roots of groundnuts grown on Trichoderma selective media indicates root colonization of the intercellular spaces in groundnut roots by Tkd. Even the control plants showed evidence of root colonization by Trichoderma but at much lower levels. This shows that groundnuts are particularly a compatible host of Trichoderma acting as an endophyte. Under scanning electron microscopy, T. harzianum showed the ability to parasitize A. flavus by coiling around A. flavus hyphae, penetrating and degrading the mycelium of A. flavus. The levels of aflatoxin B1 contamination from Aspergillus infection were determined using a MaxiSignal® ELISA test kit. The aflatoxin levels of A. flavus-inoculated control plants were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that of the Tkd-treated plants, by 57 and 65%, in two trials. Yields from plants treated with Tkd were 35 and 49% higher than that from the control (untreated with Tkd) plants in these field trials. It can be concluded that application of Tkd to groundnut seeds may reduce infection of the groundnut seeds by Aspergillus flavus, and hence, it may reduce the contamination of the seed by aflatoxin, especially under drought stress condition. Concurrently, Tkd treatment may result in yields being enhanced by more than 35%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anjaiah, V., Thakur, R., & Koedam, N. (2006). Evaluation of bacteria and Trichoderma for biocontrol of pre-harvest seed infection by Aspergillus flavus in groundnut. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 16, 431–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Awuah, R., Fialor, S., Binns, A., Kagochi, J., & Jolly, C. (2009). Factors influencing market participants decision to sort groundnuts along the marketing chain in Ghana. Peanut Science, 36, 68–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bhatnagar-Mathur, P., Sunkara, S., Bhatnagar-Panwar, M., Waliyar, F., & Sharma, K. K. (2015). Biotechnological advances for combating Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in crops. Plant Science, 234, 119–132.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Calvo, A. M., & Cary, J. W. (2015). Association of fungal secondary metabolism and sclerotial biology. Frontiers in Microbiology 6.

  5. Chiewchan, N., Mujumdar, A. S., & Devahastin, S. (2015). Application of drying technology to control aflatoxins in foods and feeds: A review. Drying Technology, 33, 1700–1707.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chiuraise, N., Yobo, K. S., & Laing, M. D. (2015). Seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum strain kd formulation reduced aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 122, 74–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cotty, P. J. (1997). Aflatoxin-producing potential of communities of Aspergillus section flavi from cotton producing areas in the United States. Mycological Research, 101, 698–704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Cotty, P. J., Bayman, P., Egel, D., & Elias, K. (1994). Agriculture, aflatoxins and Aspergillus. The genus Aspergillus. (pp. 1–27). US: Springer.

  9. Grace, D., Mahuku, G., Hoffmann, V., Atherstone, C., Upadhyaya, H. D., & Bandyopadhyay, R. (2015). International agricultural research to reduce food risks: Case studies on aflatoxins. Food Security, 7, 569–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Harman, G. E., Howell, C. R., Viterbo, A., Chet, I., & Lorito, M. (2004). Trichoderma species—opportunistic, avirulent plant symbionts. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2, 43–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hermosa, R., Viterbo, A., Chet, I., & Monte, E. (2012). Plant-beneficial effects of Trichoderma and of its genes. Microbiology, 158, 17–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kamika, I., Mngqawa, P., Rheeder, J. P., Teffo, S. L., & Katerere, D. R. (2014). Mycological and aflatoxin contamination of peanuts sold at markets in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Pretoria, South Africa. Food Additives and Contaminants: Part B, 7, 120–126.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Katam, R., Gottschalk, V., Survajahala, P., Brewster, G., Paxton, P., Sakata, K., Lee, C., Williams, C., Guo, B., & Latinwo, L. M. (2014). Advances in proteomics research for peanut genetics and breeding. Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Peanuts, 161.

  14. King, J. C., Blumberg, J., Ingwersen, L., Jenab, M., & Tucker, K. L. (2008). Tree nuts and peanuts as components of a healthy diet. The Journal of Nutrition, 138, 1736S–1740S.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Li, X., Zhang, T., Wang, X., Hua, K., Zhao, L., & Han, Z. (2013). The composition of root exudates from two different resistant peanut cultivars and their effects on the growth of soil-borne pathogen. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 9, 164–173.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Liu, Y., Yan, T., Li, Y., Cao, W., Pang, X., Wu, D., et al. (2015). A simple label-free photoelectrochemical immunosensor for highly sensitive detection of aflatoxin b 1 based on cds–fe 3 o 4 magnetic nanocomposites. RSC Advances, 5, 19581–19586.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lokko, P., Lartey, A., Armar-Klemesu, M., & Mattes, R. D. (2007). Regular peanut consumption improves plasma lipid levels in healthy ghanaians. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 58, 190–200.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lyn, M., Abbas, H. K., & Zablotowicz, R. (2015). Water dispersible formulation for delivery of biocontrol fungi to reduce aflatoxin. Google Patents.

  19. Mattes, R. D., Kris-Etherton, P. M., & Foster, G. D. (2008). Impact of peanuts and tree nuts on body weight and healthy weight loss in adults. The Journal of Nutrition, 138, 1741S–1745S.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mossanda, K. S. (2015). Hepatocellular carcinoma: Putative interactive mechanism between aflatoxins and hepatitis viral infections implicating oxidative stress during the onset and progression of cancer. Hypothesis, 1, 18.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Obade, M., Andang’O, P., Obonyo, C., & Lusweti, F. (2015). Aflatoxin exposure in pregnant women in kisumu county, kenya. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal, 3.

  22. Ortega-Beltran, A., Guerrero-Herrera, M. D., Ortega-Corona, A., Vidal-Martinez, V. A., & Cotty, P. J. (2014). Susceptibility to aflatoxin contamination among maize landraces from Mexico. Journal of Food Protection, 77, 1554–1562.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Otsuki, T., Wilson, J. S., & Sewadeh, M. (2001). What price precaution? European harmonisation of aflatoxin regulations and African groundnut exports. European Review of Agricultural Economics, 28, 263–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Palumbo, J., Baker, J., & Mahoney, N. (2006). Isolation of bacterial antagonists of Aspergillus flavus from almonds. Microbial Ecology, 52, 45–52. doi:10.1007/s00248-006-9096-y.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Perrone, G., Haidukowski, M., Stea, G., Epifani, F., Bandyopadhyay, R., Leslie, J. F., et al. (2014). Population structure and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus sect. flavi from maize in Nigeria and Ghana. Food Microbiology, 41, 52–59.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Probst, C., Bandyopadhyay, R., & Cotty, P. (2014). Diversity of aflatoxin-producing fungi and their impact on food safety in sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 174, 113–122.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Rojo, F. G., Reynoso, M. M., Ferez, M., Chulze, S. N., & Torres, A. M. (2007). Biological control by Trichoderma species of Fusarium solani causing peanut brown root rot under field conditions. Crop Protection, 26, 549–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Sabaté, J., & Ang, Y. (2009). Nuts and health outcomes: New epidemiologic evidence. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 89, 1643S–1648S.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Shoresh, M., Harman, G. E., & Mastouri, F. (2010). Induced systemic resistance and plant responses to fungal biocontrol agents. Annual Review of Phytopathology, 48, 21–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Starr, J. M., & Selim, M. I. (2008). Supercritical fluid extraction of aflatoxin B1 from soil. Journal of Chromatography A, 1209, 37–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Torres, A., Barros, G., Palacios, S., Chulze, S., & Battilani, P. (2014). Review on pre-and post-harvest management of peanuts to minimize aflatoxin contamination. Food Research International, 62, 11–19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Williams, J. H., Phillips, T. D., Jolly, P. E., Stiles, J. K., Jolly, C. M., & Aggarwal, D. (2004). Human aflatoxicosis in developing countries: A review of toxicology, exposure, potential health consequences, and interventions. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80, 1106–1122.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Yunus, A. W., Sulyok, M., & Böhm, J. (2015). Mycotoxin cocktail in the samples of oilseed cake from early maturing cotton varieties associated with cattle feeding problems. Toxins, 7, 2188–2197.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Plant Pathology, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    M. H. Kifle, K. S. Yobo & M. D. Laing

Authors
  1. M. H. Kifle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. S. Yobo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. D. Laing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. H. Kifle.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kifle, M.H., Yobo, K.S. & Laing, M.D. Biocontrol of Aspergillus flavus in groundnut using Trichoderma harzianum stain kd. J Plant Dis Prot 124, 51–56 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-016-0066-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-016-0066-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation