Peanut Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
Peanut Biodiesel
Videos
Video Selection
Mycotoxin Research
Production Research
Post Harvest Research
Expert Systems
Chemistry
Peanut Breeding and Genetics
Biochemistry
UPPT
 

Research Project: CONTROL MECHANISMS FOR MYCOTOXIN PREVENTION IN PEANUTS AND THEIR ROTATION CROPS

Location: Peanut Research

Title: Evaluation of different genotypes of nontoxigenic Aspergillus flavus for their ability to reduce aflatoxin contamination in peanuts

Authors
item Horn, Bruce
item Dorner, Joe -

Submitted to: Biocontrol Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 27, 2011
Publication Date: July 10, 2011
Citation: Horn, B.W., Dorner, J.W. 2011. Evaluation of different genotypes of nontoxigenic Aspergillus flavus for their ability to reduce aflatoxin contamination in peanuts. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 21(7):865-876.

Interpretive Summary: Aflatoxins produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus are potent carcinogens and account for large monetary losses worldwide in peanuts, maize and cottonseed. Biological control in which a nontoxic strain of A. flavus is applied to crops at high concentrations effectively reduces aflatoxins through competition with native aflatoxin-producing strains. Results from a peanut seed assay in this research suggest that several nontoxic strains are more effective at reducing aflatoxins in peanuts than the currently used biocontrol strain.

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxins produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus are potent carcinogens and account for large monetary losses worldwide in peanuts, maize and cottonseed. Biological control in which a nontoxigenic strain of A. flavus is applied to crops at high concentrations effectively reduces aflatoxins through competition with native aflatoxigenic populations. In this study, eight nontoxigenic strains of A. flavus belonging to different vegetative compatibility groups and differing in deletion patterns within the aflatoxin gene cluster were evaluated for their ability to reduce aflatoxin B1 when paired with eight aflatoxigenic strains on individual peanut seeds. Inoculation of wounded viable peanut seeds with conidia demonstrated that nontoxigenic strains differed in their ability to reduce aflatoxin B1. Reductions in aflatoxin B1 often exceeded expected reductions based on a 50:50 mixture of the two A. flavus strains, although one nontoxigenic strain significantly increased aflatoxin B1 when paired with an aflatoxigenic strain. Therefore, nontoxigenicity alone is insufficient for selecting a biocontrol agent and it is also necessary to test the effectiveness of a nontoxigenic strain against a variety of aflatoxigenic strains.

   

 
Project Team
Horn, Bruce
Lamb, Marshall
Sobolev, Victor
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Plant Diseases (303)
  Food Safety, (animal and plant products) (108)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/25/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House