The production of aflatoxin, a well-known mycotoxin, is primarily attributed to two distinct Emericella species and various Aspergillus species. Because of these mycotoxin high acute toxicity, immunosuppressive, mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic properties, aflatoxin poisoning has resulted in significant financial losses in the production of corn, cottonseed, groundnuts, sorghum, wheat, rice, and other commodities. Accordingly, the proposed study aims to characterize aflatoxin producing strains from various groundnut samples using morphological and molecular methods. A total of 11 isolates were found from an infected groundnut seed sample; qualitative analysis revealed that six of these samples were aflatoxin producing Aspergillus strains. Nevertheless, four samples were identified as producing aflatoxin by molecular detection using a gene specific primer involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis. These samples were collected from the districts of Dhule, Ahmednagar, Dapoli, and Latur in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The molecular method confirmed the highest level of accuracy when compared to other methods of detection; therefore, precise and unambiguous identification of aflatoxin producing Aspergillus spp. will be crucial for the development of control strategies for the fungus in groundnuts and groundnut products that are extensively consumed in India.
Keywords: Aflatoxin; Aspergillus spp., Groundnut; Molecular detection, Mycotoxins
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