Context: Scientists at the ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics) have discovered an unknown self-defence mechanism in some peanuts that helps it in fighting fungal infections.
Aflatoxin contamination
- Peanut is vulnerable to Aspergillus infection and subsequent aflatoxin contamination.
- Aflatoxins are a group of poisonous carcinogens and mutagens produced by certain moulds (fungi), particularly species of Aspergillus, that grow on various food crops and agricultural commodities. These fungi can grow on crops such as peanuts, corn, cottonseed, and tree nuts, particularly in warm and humid conditions.
- Aflatoxins can have severe health implications for humans and animals when consumed in contaminated food or feed. They can cause acute toxicity, chronic health effects, and contribute to the development of liver cancer, immune system suppression, and growth impairments.
- To mitigate aflatoxin contamination, various preventive measures include good agricultural practices (GAPs) to reduce fungal contamination during crop production, proper storage conditions to minimise fungal growth and toxin production, and regular monitoring and testing of food and feed for aflatoxin levels.
Peanuts' Natural defence Mechanism against Fungal Infection
- The study finds that some species of peanuts offer a natural defence system against this fungus by thickening their cell walls, which helps in reducing infection of seed in the field.
- Significance:
- This offers insights that will be pivotal for breeding these groundnut varieties that are fully resistant to Aspergillus infection in the future.
- The study can also provide a wider understanding of similar resistance mechanisms across a broad spectrum of food crops such as cereals, oilseeds and nuts, which are highly susceptible to contamination from aflatoxin and other mycotoxins.