Objectives Peanut is invaded before harvest mainly by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasitics, which are potential aflatoxin producers. However, no research efforts have been directed to develop suitable management options against aflatoxigenic fungi in Northern Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the effect of soil solarization on A. flavus inocculum in the soil and to evaluate the effect of soil solarization and planting time on peanut seed invasion by Aspergillus spp. and yield of peanut varieties. Methods Soil samples were taken from 5 and 10 cm soil depths in three rounds and analyzed for aflatoxigenic population. Soil solarization reduced fungal inoculum and increased groundnut yields. Individual and total cfu g À1 of soil was determined before, after solarization and at harvest. Four Aspergillus species namely, A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. niger and A. terreus were plated on Rose Bengal Agar media (selective medium for Aspergillus spp.) and morphologically identified. To determine the natural seed infection by Aspergillus spp. and other fungi, undamaged pods from the middle two rows were carefully handshelled and 100-seed of each plot were surface sterilized by soaking in 5% aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 3 minutes and immediately rinsed with sterile distilled water, and plated on Czapek-Dox agar medium and incubated at room temperature. After 7 days the growing colonies of fungi were visually recorded. Finally, fungi identification was carried out based on macro-morphological (reverse and surface coloration of colonies, presence of pigment, and colony texture) and micro-morphological characteristics (conidia size, conidial head, shape of vesicle). Standard text (Klich, 2002) was used in the identification process. Results Their densities were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced at after solarization. In the solarized plots, A. flavus and A. parasiticus were found reduced by 53.8 and 45% cfu g À1 at Ramma and 36.4 and 44% cfu g À1 at 5 and 10 cm soil depths at Mayweyni, respectively, after soil solarization in the solarized plots than the nonsolarized plots. At harvest, Fusarium spp., A. flavus and A. terreus were detected. Pod yields were found increased by 265.6 and 182.22 kg ha À1 on solarized plots at Mayweyni and Ramma, respectively. Increase in yield related parameters (14.8% increase in number of seed per plant and 7.4% increase in number of pods per plant) were found from early planting dates as compared to later planting time at Mayweyni. Conclusions Generally, yields varied across locations; mean pod yield in Mayweyni was 360.9 kg ha À1 higher than the yield in Ramma. Three Aspergillus species namely, A. flavus, A. niger, and A. parasiticus were isolated from seed samples plated on Czapek-Dox Agar medium. Early planting of the varieties showed the lowest level of seed infection by A. flavus (22.8%). Four Aspergillus species namely, A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. niger and A. terreus were isolated before soil solarization and after solarization. Both the tota...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.