Biological Control of Aflatoxin and Cyclopiazonic Acid Contamination of Peanuts

Abstract

Aflatoxin contamination of peanuts, which results from infection and growth by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, is a serious economic problem in developed countries and a potentially serious human and animal health problem in developing countries. Cyclopiazonic acid is another mycotoxin produced by A, flavus that has been found as a contaminant of peanuts. A biological control strategy has been developed for reducing contamination of peanuts by these toxins. In involves inoculation of fields with competitive, non-toxigenic strains of the same fungi. The methodology has been tested for several years and has produced reductions in aflatoxin ranging from 30 to 90%. Field studies conducted in 1997 yielded an aflatoxin reduction of 91.6% and a reduction in cyclopiazonic acid contamination of 85.7%.