Groundnut Aflatoxin Research Strategy at ICRISAT

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Groundnut Aflatoxin Research Strategy at ICRISAT
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The Aflatoxin Problem

• Aflatoxins are produced by Aspergillus flavus

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The Aflatoxin Problem

• Adverse effects on human health and livestock.
• Blood tests have shown that very high percentage
  of the populations of several countries in Asia
  and Africa are exposed to aflatoxins.
• Important for International trade.

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Taking into account our past achievements,
ICRISAT in collaboration with several partners
will focus research and development on the
following
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Future Thrust

• Integrated Management
• Technologies for pre-harvest , post-harvest and
  storage
• Identification of high yielding resistant
  genotypes
• Robust screening methods to be developed
• Markers for resistance, e.g. lypoxygenase genes
• Assessment of risk to health of human and
  livestock
• Socioeconomic issues
• Public awareness
• Management options to reduce contamination
• Implications to international trade

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Future Thrust

• Breeding for resistance
• Conventional breeding
• Non-conventional approaches to develop resistant
  cultivars
• Antifungal genes (chitinase)
• Utilization of biological control agents
• Examples Trichoderma, Pseudomonads

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Conclusions

• ICRISATs research is focused and should ensure
  impact
• Is a global problem and focus on an integrated
  approach to reduce contamination
• Partnerships with various governmental, ARIs, and
  NGOs are crucial for success