This document discusses comprehensive strategies for managing aflatoxin in groundnuts. It begins by explaining that aflatoxin is produced by fungi and can contaminate various crops like groundnuts, maize, and sorghum. It then lists factors that can favor aflatoxin contamination at different stages from pre-harvest to post-harvest. The document advocates for an integrated management approach using cultural practices, host plant resistance, and post-harvest processing. Large-scale demonstrations in India and Gujarat showed that integrated management can successfully reduce average aflatoxin levels to below 10 ppb.
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Aflatoxin Management in Groundnut
1. Comprehensive Strategies for Aflatoxin
Management in Groundnut
Dr. M S Basu
Formerly, Director
National Research Centre for Groundnut (ICAR)
Visiting Scientist, ICRISAT (CGIAR)
UNIDO International Consultant on Aflatoxin
Malawi, Africa
muktisadhan@gmail.com
2. Aflatoxin
A secondary metabolite produced by
Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus
having carcinogenic effect
[Aspergillus flavus + toxin]
3. Aflatoxin: Maize, Groundnut,
Sorghum, Peal millet,
Cotton seeds, Chilli, etc.
Fumonisin: Maize, Groundnut, Beans,
etc.
Ochratoxin: Maize, Chilli, Sorghum,
Pearl millet, etc.
Toxins affecting important crops
4. Permissible Limits of Aflatoxin (ppb)
EU
Groundnut (unsorted) 5 B1
10 B1+B2+G1+G2
Groundnut sorted 2 B1
4 B1+B2+G1+G2
USA (all foods) 20
Australia (peanut) 15
Canada (nuts) 15
France (all foods) 10
India (all foods) 30
China (cereals) 50
6. Soil population of A. flavus varies depending on
soil types and crop rotations
Soil-water-nutrient balance during the crop
growth period
Mechanical injury to pods during intercultural
operations
Damage to pods due to soil insect-pests
Prolonged moisture stress associated with high
temp. at pod maturity
Delayed harvest (over maturity)
Pre-Harvest Stages
8. Harvesting immediately after irrigation with
high initial pod moisture followed by quick
drying under hot sun
Gleaning of pods from soil after harvest
Mechanical damage to the pods/ kernels
during processing
Storing produce above 8-9 % moisture level
Hot and humid storage condition
Adding moisture during decortication
Packing of kernels at added moisture level
Post-Harvest Stages
9. Dimension of Aflatoxin Contamination Problem in
Major Groundnut Growing States of India
District Pod
samples
Infection
%
AF Population
(cfu x 103/g soil)
Anantpur 928 83 420
Chittoor 178 95 530
Cuddapah 30 85 092
Kurnool 181 88 740
Kolar 24 70 069
Tumkur 175 89 420
Contd…
Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka
11. Distribution of A. flavus in Different Districts of
Gujarat during Rainy & Post-rainy Season
Population changes with seasonal variation and
more in Rainy season
District Aspergillus flavus
Post Rainy Rainy
Junagadh 39.30 51.40
Amreli 37.80 48.30
Bhuj 22.90 41.40
Bhavnagar 13.80 69.00
12. The Fact Remains:
It’s a complex problem
No single solution
No dependable genetic resistance
No transgenic for commercial
cultivation
13. Integrated Management of Aflatoxin in
Groundnut
(a): Host Plant Resistance
(b): Cultural – Good Agronomic Practices
Approaches:
(c): Biocontrol – Use of Non-toxigenic
Strains
(d): Mechanical – Efficient Post-harvest
Processing, Decortication
14. Available Technological Options
• Cultural management considered as best
option that includes:
Application of bio-control agents
Use of tolerant varieties (testa, drought,
foliar diseases)
Practice in situ moisture conservation
Harvest at optimum physiological maturity
Subject to wind-row drying (plant along
with pods, in small heaps)
Mechanical threshing and segregation
Storage of fully dried pods (8% moisture)
in well ventilated, leak-proof godown
15.
16.
17. At Soil Level:
• Native populations of Aspergillus
• Activation of the fungus due to changes
in soil-water-nutrition balance
• Soil pests
Factors:
• Deep Ploughing; exposing soil to hot sun
• Crop rotation
• Soil solarization
Prevention:
18. At Plant Level
• Acute and prolonged moisture stress
• High temperatures
• Over maturity
• Varietal selection
• Soil moisture management
• Harvesting at optimum maturity
Factors:
Prevention:
19. At Harvesting and Processing Level
• Mechanical damage
• High initial pod moisture
• Insufficient drying
• Warm & humid storage conditions
• Removal of damaged & immature pods
• Mechanical separation of well-filled pods
• Quick natural drying in small heaps
• Storage of pods at 8-9% moisture in well
ventilated godown free from humidity
Factors:
Prevention:
21. Large Scale Demonstrations in Gujarat
• The A.P experience was utilized in Kutch-Bhuj
(on the direction of Agril. Advisor to PM, GoI)
• 220 Demos (1 acre each) conducted at
Nakhatrana Netra, Kotada, involving 226
farmers (2001-02)
• 440 samples (2 from each Demo) were analyzed
for Aflatoxin using HPLC
• Majority of samples were within 0.3 to 8.8 ppb
• The highest load recorded: 184 ppb
22. Significant Outcome
• Integrated Management successfully
reduced aflatoxin load on an average :
< 10 ppb - as against 110 - 383 ppb
as found in corresponding traditional
produce in two different seasons
![Aflatoxin
A secondary metabolite produced by
Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus
having carcinogenic effect
[Aspergillus flavus + toxin]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)