Strategies to understand Aspergillus flavus resistance mechanism in Arachis hypogaea L.

Abstract

The legume, Arachis hypogaea produced worldwide is affected by Aspergillus flavus producing aflatoxin and subsequently influences the economic decline affecting the food industries, human and livestock. The inadequate information developed about the molecular mechanism of host-pathogen interaction between A. flavus and A. hypogaea and resistance mechanism in controlling the fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination either during pre- or post-harvest stages of peanut cultivation, emanates the global problem to be addressed critically. Although significant advances in molecular biology techniques have paved a way to understand the resistance of A. hypogaea against A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination, ongoing research aims to identify the lacuna in controlling pathogenesis and also to identify novel resistance mechanism required to enhance peanut production by controlling the fungal infection. In this view, thorough knowledge on the advances made in understanding the host resistance mechanism of peanut against A. flavus and aflatoxin contamination is discussed in detail, and novel suggestions have been exemplified to apply and successfully overcome the pathogenesis. Keywords: Peanut, Aspergillus flavus, Aflatoxin contamination, Resistance, Host-pathogen interaction