Impact of habitats on toxigenic potential of Aspergillus flavus

Toxigenic potentials of Aspergillus flavus strains isolated from different organic substrates, air and soils were evaluated. The frequency of occurrence of A. flavus ranged from 76% in maize to 87% (coconut and groundnut) and 92% in makhana (Euryale ferox indica.) Incidence was lowest in green gram (42%). Analysis of variance showed that the percentage incidence of A. flavus in the aerosphere of maize fields was significantly affected by season × location. In soil samples the frequency of occurrence of A. flavus was high during the monsoons (76% in non-diara land soils, 69% in diara land soil). Among 1706 isolates of A. flavus obtained from different sources, 826 (48.4%) were found to be toxigenic. The frequency of non-toxigenic strains of A. flavus was comparatively higher (ratio = 1.07:1) than the toxigenic strains. Percentage incidence of the toxigenic strains of A. flavus was the highest (73.3%; ratio = 0.36:1) in the soil samples. No attempt was made to differentiate A. flavus and A. parasiticus and therefore all references to A. flavus include A. parasiticus.