Functional biology and molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions for aflatoxin contamination in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and maize (Zea mays L.)

Authors: SONI, POOJA - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - India; GANGURDE, SUNIL - International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); ORTEGA-BELTRON, ALEJANDRO - International Center For Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); KUMAR, RAKESH - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - India; PARMAR, SEJAL - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - India; SUDINI, HARI - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - India; LEI, YONG - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; Ni, Xinzhi; HUAI, DONGXIN - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; FOUNTAIN, JAKE - University Of Georgia; NJOROGE, SAMUEL - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - India; MAHUKU, GEORGE - International Center For Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); RADHAKRISHNAN, THANKAPPAN - Indian Council Of Agricultural Research (ICAR); ZHUANG, WEIJIAN - Fujian Agriculture And Forest University; Guo, Baozhu; LIAO, BOSHOU - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; SINGAM, PRASHANT - Osmania University; PANDEY, MANISH - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - India; BANDYOPADHYAY, RANAJIT - International Center For Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); VARSHNEY, RAJEEV - International Crops Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) - India

Submitted to: Frontiers in Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2020
Publication Date: 3/3/2020
Citation: Soni, P., Gangurde, S.S., Ortega-Beltron, A., Kumar, R., Parmar, S., Sudini, H.K., Lei, Y., Ni, X., Huai, D., Fountain, J.C., Njoroge, S., Mahuku, G., Radhakrishnan, T., Zhuang, W., Guo, B., Liao, B., Singam, P., Pandey, M.K., Bandyopadhyay, R., Varshney, R.K. 2020. Functional biology and molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions for aflatoxin contamination in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). Frontiers in Microbiology. 11:Article 227 p. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00227.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00227

Interpretive Summary: Peanut and corn are among the most aflatoxin-prone crops. Both crops are commonly exposed to Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus during pre-harvest in the field and post-harvest in the storage or transportation. For example, in Ghana, these two crops are considered as staples, but are frequently infected by Aspergillus species and contaminated with unsafe aflatoxin levels. As in any other country as in Ghana, the aflatoxin resistant varieties are not commercially available. Heat and drought stress are the most important abiotic stresses that predispose Aspergillus infection in the field. Research efforts have been made in the past three decades to understand the genetic resistance and molecular mechanisms, as well as the detailed biology of host-pathogen interactions. The different molecular biological or “omics”, approaches have played a key role in performing in-depth research and improving understanding of the resistance mechanisms and identifying pathways involved during host-pathogen interactions. This report will provides a summary of recent progress regarding the increased understanding of the functional biology and molecular mechanism associated with host-pathogen interaction in order to search for the “silver bullet” to the aflatoxin contamination in corn and peanut.

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by soil-borne saprophytic fungus Aspergillus flavus and closely related species when infecting several agricultural commodities including groundnut and maize. Consumption of contaminated commodities adversely affects the health of humans and livestock. The aflatoxin contamination causes significant financial losses to producers. Research efforts and significant progress have been made in the past three decades to understand the genetic behavior, molecular mechanisms, as well as the detailed biology of host-pathogen interactions. Research efforts also include both investigations to elucidate why aflatoxin-producing fungi need to produce the toxins and possible genetic solutions to solve the contamination problem. The different “omics” approaches have played a key role in performing in-depth research and improving understanding of the resistance mechanisms and identifying pathways involved during host-pathogen interactions. Most of those investigations had focused on groundnut and maize. Current efforts are geared towards harnessing knowledge on host-pathogen interactions and crop resistant factors that control aflatoxin contamination. This review article provides a summary of recent progress regarding the increased understanding of the functional biology and molecular mechanism associated with host-pathogen interaction during aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and maize.