Relationship between total phenols and aflatoxin production of peanut genotypes under end-of-season drought conditions

Abstract

Aflatoxin contamination of peanut caused by Aspergillus flavus, is a major problem in the rainfed agriculture in the semi-arid tropics associated with end-of-season drought stress. The present study was taken up to investigate the relationship between total phenol content of peanut leaves and kernels with aflatoxin content. Moisture stress was imposed from 60DAS to till harvest under rainout shelters and the data was recorded at the end-of-season drought conditions during kharif, 2003. Results revealed that, among the twenty one peanut genotypes tested, J-11, IC-48, ICGV 89104 and ICGS-76 had consistently low aflatoxin levels ( 1,300 μg g−1) at harvest under end-of-season drought conditions. Aflatoxin production was negatively correlated with total phenols in kernels (r2 = −0.42, P < 0.05) and leaves (r2 = −0.37, P < 0.05). No consistent relationship was observed between kernel infection and aflatoxin production.