Scientists at ICRISAT have made a groundbreaking discovery in the self-defense mechanism of certain peanuts, revealing a potential natural defense not only for different peanut varieties but also for other crops.
Peanuts are susceptible to Aspergillus infection, leading to aflatoxin contamination, a significant threat to food safety and human health. Despite aflatoxin resistance being a complex trait, the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying it are poorly understood.
The study aims to identify resistance-related metabolites in groundnuts that influence the defense against aflatoxin. It revealed the biochemical processes leading to the thickening of the secondary cell wall, enhancing resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection.
Aflatoxin, a potent carcinogen, accumulates in various food crops due to Aspergillus species, posing a global challenge impacting food safety, health, and the economy. Government regulations on aflatoxin levels significantly affect food markets and export economies in developing countries.
While physical and chemical methods exist to manage aflatoxin contamination, developing resistant varieties offers an economical solution. This study provides crucial insights for breeding groundnut varieties fully resistant to Aspergillus infection in the future.
ICRISAT's efforts, from low-cost aflatoxin detection assays to post-harvest management practices, have revitalized export economies, especially in countries like Malawi. Jacqueline Hughes, Director-General of ICRISAT, emphasizes the study's importance in advancing research to eliminate the issue at its source, saving both cost and effort.
In this study, ICRISAT researchers utilized a metabolomics-based systems biology approach, revealing the biochemistry behind increased peanut resistance to Aspergillus infection. The linkage between specific metabolites and the level of resistance exhibited by peanut varieties is reported for the first time.
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