Abstract
Aflatoxin is considered a “hidden poison” due to its slow and adverse effect on various biological pathways in humans, particularly among children, in whom it leads to delayed development, stunted growth, liver damage, and liver cancer. Unfortunately, the unpredictable behavior of the fungus as well as climatic conditions pose serious challenges in precise phenotyping, genetic prediction and genetic improvement, leaving the complete onus of preventing aflatoxin contamination in crops on post-harvest management. Equipping popular crop varieties with genetic resistance to aflatoxin is key to effective lowering of infection in farmer’s fields. A combination of genetic resistance for in vitro seed colonization (IVSC), pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination (PAC) and aflatoxin production together with pre- and post-harvest management may provide a sustainable solution to aflatoxin contamination. In this context, modern “omics” approaches, including next-generation genomics technologies, can provide improved and decisive information and genetic solutions. Preventing contamination will not only drastically boost the consumption and trade of the crops and products across nations/regions, but more importantly, stave off deleterious health problems among consumers across the globe.
Highlights
Aflatoxin contamination is a food safety concern that has adverse financial implications and health consequences in groundnut growing regions across the globe
Polyketide derived aflatoxins are produced by A. flavus which is a soil saprophytic fungus and and 25–35 ◦ C and is readily able to colonize in most environments whenever there is a suitable opportunistic pathogen that impacts human and animal health
Plants which were invaded and/or colonized by A. flavus do not show any visible symptoms on the Groundnut pods develop beneath the soil, which is the main source of inoculum for A. flavus foliage except aflatoxin accumulation in the grains/seeds
Summary
Aflatoxin contamination is a food safety concern that has adverse financial implications and health consequences in groundnut growing regions across the globe. In addition to health issues, aflatoxin levels beyond a threshold hamper the export quality of groundnuts 20 parts per billion (ppb) in the USA and 4 ppb in Europe [7] resulting in significant economic loss to farmers and traders. Studies have reported the existence of three types of host-pathogen resistance mechanisms, namely in vitro seed colonization (IVSC), pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination (PAC) and aflatoxin production (AP) detected in different genetic backgrounds [12,13,14,15,16]. It(Figure advocates the deployment modern scientific toolsscientific and technologies minimize contamination contamination throughout the value chain, food thereby ensuring food safety andglobally. Once these products enter the food-feed chain travel across it, they canacross have an onadverse human health. Contaminated products enter the and food-feed chain and travel it,adverse they canimpact have an impact on human health
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call