title: Preharvest aflatoxin contamination of groundnuts subjected to terminal drought stress in postrainy season.
abstract: Groundnuts grown in the postrainy season under terminal drought stress imposed by withholding irrigation, or under a water-deficit gradient created by line-source sprinkler irrigation, were examined for preharvest aflatoxin contamination. High levels of aflatoxin B1 were found in damaged seeds in both situations. When grown under continuous drought-stress, toxin levels in damaged seed samples ranged from 1480 to 2467 [Symbol: see text]g/kg in the 1990/91, and 1.3 to 2000 [Symbol: see text]g/kg in the 1991/92 postrainy seasons. Aflatoxin B1 contamination in all damaged seed samples increased with increasing water deficit; toxin levels ranged from 26 to 850 [Symbol: see text]g/kg across the water deficit gradient. Aflatoxin was either absent or almost negligible (1-2 [Symbol: see text]g/kg) in apparently undamaged seed samples. Low risk of aflatoxin contamination in apparently undamaged seeds of groundnuts grown in postrainy seasons is indicated, even when there is terminal drought stress.
authors.affiliation: Legumes Program, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru PO, AP 502 324, India.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Mehan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramakrishna
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McDonald