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The Efficacy of Clove Oil Against Aspergillus flavus and the Production of Aflatoxin B1 in Organic Peanuts in Georgia

Summary

Researchers tested clove essential oil as a natural antifungal treatment for peanuts infected with a mold that produces aflatoxin, a dangerous toxin harmful to human health. They found that clove oil significantly reduced both the mold growth and toxin production, with the best results at moderate concentrations. This discovery offers organic farmers an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fungicides for protecting their peanut crops. The findings could help reduce a major agricultural problem that costs the Southeast millions of dollars annually.

Background

Georgia produces over 50% of the United States’ peanuts, but the Southeast loses approximately 25 million U.S. dollars annually due to aflatoxin contamination from Aspergillus species. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), produced by Aspergillus flavus, is one of the most toxic and carcinogenic substances affecting humans, livestock, and crops globally. Synthetic fungicides have limited success and pose environmental and health risks.

Objective

This study evaluates the effectiveness of clove essential oil (EO) as a biological control agent against A. flavus and AFB1 production in artificially inoculated organic peanut seeds. The research aims to determine the optimal concentration of clove EO for reducing AFB1 contamination in organic peanuts grown in Georgia.

Results

Clove EO demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of both A. flavus mycelial growth and AFB1 production. Seeds treated with 2000 ppm clove EO showed no visible mycelial growth and less than 1% AFB1 compared to controls. The IC50 value was determined to be 324.7 ppm with a strong correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9941), and approximately 70% AFB1 inhibition occurred at 500 ppm.

Conclusion

Clove essential oil shows promise as an eco-friendly biological control agent against A. flavus and AFB1 production in organic peanuts, with effectiveness at relatively low concentrations. This study demonstrates for the first time the potential of clove EO as an alternative to synthetic fungicides for organic peanut production in Georgia. Further field trials are needed to evaluate practicality and cost-effectiveness for large-scale agricultural applications.
  • Published in:ACS Omega,
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: 10.1021/acsomega.5c06467
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