ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

contamination. In Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India, only T. viride was tested at Rekulakunta village on ten
farmers’ fields with a plot size 100 2 m. The Trichoderma was applied adjacent to the rows one week after
germination.
From each plot, about one kg pod sample was drawn and pods were sorted based on size into small and large pods.
The A. flavus infection and aflatoxin levels ranged between 1 - 62% and 0 -5233 μg kg -1 , respectively. In bulk seed,
68% reduction in A. flavus seed infection was observed in plots treated with compost and gypsum, over the control,
which had 11% seed infection. Similarly, in large seed lots, about 53% reduction in A. flavus was observed with
compost, Trichoderma and compost + Trichoderma + gypsum treated plots. Corresponding aflatoxin in large seed
lots showed that 97% reduction in toxin level with compost + Trichoderma + gypsum treatment, followed by
compost (23%) and Trichoderma (14%) over 125 μg ha -1 in control. However, in small seed lots, reduction in A.
flavus infection was low (21%) with a combination compost + Trichoderma + gypsum application. In small seed
samples, highest reduction (72%) in toxin level was observed with Trichoderma, followed by compost +
Trichoderma + gypsum (41%), and gypsum (33%) as against 133 μg ha -1 in control. Kernels from damaged pods
showed very high levels (>510 μg ha -1 ) of aflatoxin. Trichoderma, gypsum, and compost + Trichoderma + gypsum
application showed 28 - 58% reduction in aflatoxin contamination over the control (1207 μg ha -1 ). This trial was
repeated in the 2006 rainy season on 10 farmers’ fields (plot size 100 2 m) in Cherlopalli village in Anantapur. The
trial was harvested in Nov. 2006. Post-harvest sampling is being done for A. flavus infection and aflatoxin analysis,
and the results are awaited.
Farid Waliyar
Low-cost agro-practices for management of groundnut aflatoxin via integrated management: To develop low
cost options for the management of aflatoxins contamination in groundnut, a field trial was laid-out at ICRISAT-
Patancheru during the 2006 rainy season. The trial comprised of 4 treatments (application of compost, gypsum and
their combination, and untreated control), with susceptible genotype JL 24, and planted in 6 replications using
randomized complete block design. Highly toxigenic strain (AF 11-4) of A. flavus multiplied on maize/sorghum
seed was broadcasted in the field before sowing, followed by row application of inoculum at fortnightly intervals -
starting from 25 days after sowing. Terminal drought was imposed 30 days before harvest to facilitate the seed
infection and aflatoxin contamination. Harvesting at 110 days after sowing was done by up-rooting the plants and
the produce dried under sunlight for 5 - 7 days before the pods were stripped. Post-harvest sampling for aflatoxin
analysis is in progress and the results are awaited.
Farid Waliyar
Milestone: Training courses in mycotoxin detection technologies conducted for NARS (FW/PLK) Biennual
A training course in mycotoxin detection technologies for NARS will be conducted in 2007.
Farid Waliyar and P Lava Kumar
241