ASPERGILLUS COLONIZATION AND AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN PEANUT GENOTYPES WITH RESISTANCE TO OTHER FUNGAL PATHOGENS

Indirect selection tools would be valuable in the development of peanu t (Arachis hypogaea) cultivars with resistance to aflatoxin contaminat ion. The objective of this study was to determine whether resistance t o other fungi could be used as an indirect selection tool for resistan ce to colonization of peanut by Aspergillus flavus group fungi or afla toxin contamination. Nine peanut genotypes with resistance to late lea f spot (Cercosporidium personatum) or white mold (Sclerotium rolfsii) were evaluated far 2 years at Tifton, GA, and Yuma, AZ. Plots were sub jected to late-season heat and drought stress. None of the genotypes e xhibited less colonization of shells or kernels by A. flavus group fun gi than cv. Florunner when tested in Georgia or Arizona. None of the g enotypes showed a reduced level of aflatoxin contamination in comparis on to Florunner at either location. These results indicate that the me chanisms of resistance to other fungi operating in these genotypes are not effective in providing resistance to colonization by A. flavus gr oup fungi or reducing aflatoxin contamination. Therefore, resistance t o these fungi cannot be used as an indirect selection tool for resista nce to anatoxin contamination.