Vol. 12 No. 3
Control of aflatoxin biosynthesis in peanut with geocarposphere bacteria : a biotechnological approach for sustainable development
Author(s): H. K. CHOURASIA
Abstract: Roots and pods of field grown peanut were sampled at three developmental stages and a total of seven bacterial strains and one toxigenic Aspergillus flavus isolates were isolated from the geocarposphere. The biocontrol potential of each bacterial strains was tested against growth and Afl-B1 production potential of toxigenic A. flavus. In green house experiments, co-inoculation with toxigenic A. flavus and geocarposphere bacteria in root regions of 1 to 2 week old peanut plants resulted in lower synthesis of Afl-B1 in the peanut kernels at maturity. Of the seven bacterial strains tested, four strains showed reduction in aflatoxins production in varying extents. Pre- inoculation of bacterial strains (1-day earlier) resulted in greater inhibition of aflatoxin accumulation than those bacterial strains introduced 1-day after inoculation of toxigenic A. flavus strain. Bacillus megaterium showed maximum inhibition of aflatoxin biosynthsis, as compared to remaining three potential bacterial strains.
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