English

Abstract

Aflatoxin contamination is a qualitative problem in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) occurring at both pre-and post-harvest stages. These aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus and have carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, teratogenic and immuno-suppressive effects. To evaluate the prevalence of A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination in groundnut oil mills/traders’ of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (AP) pod samples were collected from eight selected oil mills/traders’ in Mahaboobnagar, Rangareddy, Nizamabad, Karimnagar (Telangana); and Anantapur (AP) districts. A total of 24 pod samples were collected (Three samples from the each selected oil mill). Aflatoxin contamination in kernels was estimated by indirect competitive ELISA. In Telangana, kernel infection ranged from 42 (Mahaboobnagar) to 90.7% (Nizamabad). In AP, Tadimarri mandal recorded kernel infection up to 29.3% whereas Tadipatri recorded up to 59.3%. Aflatoxins in kernels from these mills in Telangana were highest in Rangareddy (1205.2 µg kg-1 ) followed by Karimnagar (365.5 µg kg-1 ). Oil mills of Nizamabad and Mahaboobnagar have recorded aflatoxins to a tune of 4.9 and 11.5 µg kg-1 in Telangana. In AP, aflatoxins in pod samples were 2.8 µg kg-1 (Tadipatri) and 6148.4 µg kg-1 (Tadimarri).