ARS | Publication request: SEARCHING FOR A SILVER BULLET IN A HAYSTACK.

Submitted to: Aflatoxin Elimination Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 20, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: One of the main objectives of this research program has been to identify sources of resistance to preharvest aflatoxin contamination (PAC) and to use these sources to develop resistant peanut cultivars. We have examined germplasm previously reported to have resistance to PAC, germplasm with resistance to other fungi, and germplasm with low linoleic acid. None of this germplasm showed a level of resistance to PAC high enough to be used in a cultivar development program. In 1997, we examined three agronomic practices that had been reported to have the potential to reduce PAC in peanut. These included: 1) planting in twin rather than single rows, 2) the use of Abound, a new broad spectrum fungicide, and 3) the use of a new growth regulator. None of these agronomic practices had a significant effect on PAC. We also have recently completed screening the peanut core collection for sources of resistance to PAC. Fourteen core accessions were observed to have an average of 70% reduction in PAC in multiple years of testing. Six of these accessions (66, 99, 158, 215, 276, and 522) exhibited a 90% reduction in PAC in multiple years of testing. These lines have been entered into a hybridization program to combine resistance to PAC with acceptable agronomic performance.