Phenolic compounds in peanut seeds: Enhanced elicitation by chitosan and effects on growth and aflatoxin B1 production by Aspergillus flavus

Effects of chitosan and Aspergillus flavus to enhance elicitation of phenolic compounds in viable peanut seeds were conducted at two water activity levels. In vitro effects of phenolic acids on A. flavus growth and aflatoxin B₁ production were also studied. Chitosan enhanced elicitation of free phenolic compounds (FPC) at Aw .85 and .95 levels. A. flavus initially decreased and subsequently increased FPC content, but bound phenolic compounds (BPC) decreased during incubation. Chitosan + A. flavus treatment caused an increase in FPC reaching a plateau between 24–48 h at Aw .85 while BPC levels increased over the same period at both Aw levels. Major free and bound phenolic acids detected were p‐coumaric, ferulic and an unknown phenolic acid eluting at a retention time of 22 min. Generally, chitosan significantly enhanced elicitation of free ferulic and p‐coumaric acids and bound p‐coumaric acid at Aw .95. Free unknown phenolic and bound ferulic acids at Aw .85 were enhanced by chitosan. A. flavus caused significant induction of bound p‐coumaric and ferulic acids and free unknown phenol at Aw .85. Chitosan + A. flavus enhanced free p‐coumaric (3 h) and unknown phenolic acids and bound p‐coumaric acid at Aw .95 while bound ferulic acid was enhanced at Aw .85. Chitosan limited A. flavus growth and subsequent aflatoxin production by inducing susceptible tissues to produce more preformed phenolic compounds.

Analysis of liquid cultures of A. flavus revealed that p‐coumaric, ferulic, and vanillic acids and a mixture of these phenolic acids slightly inhibited mycelial growth. Production of aflatoxin B₁ by A. flavus was completely inhibited at 1 mM and 10 mM concentrations of the phenolic acids and their mixture on four days of incubation. Mode of action of phenolic acids is likely on the secondary pathway for aflatoxin B₁ production and not on the primary metabolism for fungal growth.