INFLUENCE OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AMENDMENTS ON POPULATION DYNAMICS OF Aspergillus flavus AND ANTAGONISTIC MICROBES, AND ON AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDNUT IN MALAWI

The study evaluated the effects of soil organic matter amendments on temporal dynamics of populations of A. flavus and antagonistic microbes, and on aflatoxin contamination in groundnut under field conditions in Malawi. The study also investigated the implications of rainfall on populations of the microbes. Treatments included commercial organic fertilizer applied at the rates of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 t ha-1; and farmyard manure at rates of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 t ha-1, while an untreated plot was used as a control. The short-duration groundnut variety JL24 was used as the experimental material. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Chitedze Agricultural Research Station in Malawi during the 2018/2019 main cropping season. Soil samples were collected at monthly intervals from date of planting of groundnut and were analyzed using plate count method on selective media for colony forming units of A. flavus, Trichoderma spp. and P. fluorescens to monitor their populations per treatment over time. Aflatoxin B1 content in groundnut samples from all plots was detected using an ELISA protocol. Dried and shelled groundnut samples were weighed for estimation of yield. There were no significant effects of treatments on population. However, populations of A. flavus and Trichoderma spp. decreased with an increase in population of P. fluorescens over time, suggesting an antagonistic effect of P. fluorescens against both A. flavus, and Trichoderma spp. There was a positive correlation between rainfall and populations of A. flavus, and Trichoderma spp. The highest application rates of both COF and FYM gave lower median AFB1 concentration ( 30 ppb) and FYM (≤ 15.36 ppb). Overall, FYM treatments gave lower median AFB1 concentrations compared to plots treated with COF. There were no significant effects of treatments on yield. The highest rates of COF and FYM can be recommended to reduce aflatoxin contamination. However, further study is recommended where toxigenicity and antagonistic potential of A. flavus and its antagonists respectively, as well as pre-treatment soil aflatoxin concentration will be assessed.