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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357985
Title: Integrated management of Aspergillus species and aflatoxin production in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) through application of farm yard manure and seed treatments with fungicides and Trichoderma species

Author
item MOHAMMED, ABDI - Ethiopia Haramaya University
item CHALA, ALEMAYEHU - Hawassa University
item OJIEAWO, CHRIS - International Crops Research Institute For The Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
item DEJENE, MASHILLA - Ethiopia Haramaya University
item FININSA, CHEMEDA - Ethiopia Haramaya University
item AYALEW, AMARE - Partnership For Aflatoxin Control In Africa, Ethiopia
item HOISINGTON, DAVID - University Of Georgia
item Sobolev, Victor
item Arias De Ares, Renee

Submitted to: African Journal of Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/2018
Publication Date: 9/30/2019
Citation: Mohammed, A., Chala, A., Ojieawo, C., Dejene, M., Fininsa, C., Ayalew, A., Hoisington, D., Sobolev, V., Arias De Ares, R.S. 2019. Integrated management of Aspergillus species and aflatoxin production in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) through application of farm yard manure and seed treatments with fungicides and Trichoderma species. African Journal of Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPS2018.1688.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPS2018.1688

Interpretive Summary: Among the many strategies explored to reduce aflatoxin in agricultural products, one is to try to reduce the amount of Aspergillus inoculum in soil. In this work, fungicides, a biocontrol agent (Trichoderma) and manure were applied to soil before planting. In these experiments, Trichoderma treated soil plots presented higher yield and lower aflatoxin levels.

Technical Abstract: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important cash crop in the lowland areas of Ethiopia. However, prevalence of Aspergillus invasions and subsequent aflatoxin contamination compromises the quality of groundnut kernels. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of farm yard manure (FYM) and seed treatments against Aspergillus species pod colonization and aflatoxin accumulation under field conditions. The inhibitory efficacy of Trichoderma species as biocontrol agents was also assessed. A total of 20 treatment combinations including pre-planting applications of FYM at 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 tons/ha and seed treatments with carbendazim at 2 g/kg and mancozeb at 3 g kg-1, and Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride each at 5 g/kg as well as untreated seed as control were used. Treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. The experiment was conducted in two consecutive seasons (2014 and 2015) at Babile Haramaya University sub-Research Station. The highest pod and seed yields (1901.5 and 1281.5 kg/ha, respectively) were recovered from plots treated with T. harzianum at 5 g/kg seed. A. flavus was abundantly recorded in control plots, which could be responsible for the high aflatoxin B1 (5704.4 µg/kg) and B2 (2219.0 µg/kg) contamination. However, plots treated with T. harzianum at 5 g/kg seed and FYM at 5 tons/ha + T. harzianum at 5 g/kg were free from aflatoxin. Integrations of T. harzianum as biocontrol seed treatment and soil amendment with FYM were effective in the pre-harvest management of Aspergillus spp. and aflatoxins contamination.