Title : The role of pre and post-harvest technology on pod yield and quality of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) kernels
Abstract:
I n the era of world free trading, low aflatoxin contamination on peanut kernels and its products is an ultimate prerequisite stated by the imported countries. Aflatoxin is a carcinogen, immune suppressing and anti-nutritional natural contaminant of peanuts and hence it is a major human food and animal feed quality problem in all over the world. This toxin is produced in peanut kernels by soil fungi Aspergillus flavus, A. paraciticus and A. nomius. The toxin is produced either when the crops are still standing in the fields (pre harvest contamination) or when the kernels have been harvested, or when they have already in the food supply chain (post harvest contamination). In both situations, the toxin is produced when the moisture content of the kernels is in the critical range for fungus to produce the toxin. In semi arid and arid areas, aflatoxin contamination starts at preharvest, in humid areas, however, the contamination builds up during post harvest condition. This research therefore was done to study the effect of cultural practices on the production of aflatoxin just after harvesting. Eleven drought tolerant peanut lines were grew using recommended and local variety was grown by using farmer’s technologies. Both preharvest technologies were followed by post harvest handlings. The results showed that recommended technology was succesfully increase pod yield by more than 100% compared to that of farmer’s technology: 2.315 tons and 0.4-0.6 t/ha of dry pods, respectively. The aflatoxin contamination of peanut kernels produced by recommended technology was 0.59 ppb only. Whilst that was produced by farmer’s technology was 59 ppb. On the other hand, farmer’s technology was superior in physical kernel quality as shown by higher percent of sound mature kernels, and lower shriveled and damage kernels compared to those of recommended technology
