Abstract
Pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination (PAC) is a major problem facing peanut production worldwide. Produced by the ubiquitous soil fungus, Aspergillus flavus, aflatoxin is the most naturally occurring known carcinogen. The interaction between fungus and host resulting in PAC is complex, and breeding for PAC resistance has been slow. It has been shown that aflatoxin production can be induced by applying drought stress as peanut seeds mature. We have implemented an automated rainout shelter that controls temperature and moisture in the root and peg zone to induce aflatoxin production. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), seeds meeting the following conditions were selected: infected with Aspergillus flavus and contaminated with aflatoxin; and not contaminated with aflatoxin. RNA sequencing analysis revealed groups of genes that describe the transcriptional state of contaminated vs. uncontaminated seed. These data suggest that fatty acid biosynthesis and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling are altered in contaminated seeds and point to a potential susceptibility factor, ABR1, as a repressor of ABA signaling that may play a role in permitting PAC.
Highlights
Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, ubiquitous filamentous soil fungi, are a major threat to food security
Do not show that the genotypes assayed maintain canopy temperature stressthese and data the soil moisture during the seed–Aspergillus can be described as resistant or susceptible to aflatoxin, the fact that each plot can maintain canopy interaction can predict a proportion of the variance due to aflatoxin, is encouraging
Temperature under drought stress and the soil moisture during the seed–Aspergillus interaction can predict a proportion of the variance dueContaminated to aflatoxin, iswith encouraging
Summary
Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, ubiquitous filamentous soil fungi, are a major threat to food security. During the interaction with many oil seed crops, Aspergillus spp. can produce aflatoxin, perhaps the most carcinogenic, naturally occurring compound known [1]. Aflatoxin contamination can occur during pre-harvest or post-harvest. Due to poor storage conditions, post-harvest contamination has contributed to outbreaks that have killed hundreds and affected thousands in developing countries [2,3,4]. Chronic exposure to low levels of aflatoxin has been linked to child stunting and hepatosplenomegaly, and enlargement of the liver and spleen [4,5]. Pre-harvest contamination is more subtle and can cause major yield losses for growers in developed countries. Limits of aflatoxin for human consumption are 20 ppb, and are even lower in Europe at 4 ppb. Estimates for the cost of aflatoxin in just southeastern US were
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