Molecular Characterization of Aflatoxin Biosynthesis Genes of Aspergillus flavus from Peanuts Production Area

In this study, molecular analysis of (100%) all fungal isolates, which were sampled from soil and air besides from infected peanut plants in the peanut planting area, were identified in beta-tubulin gene by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR products of fungal isolates were restricted by Bg/II enzyme within Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). The intergenic spacer (IGS) region for aflatoxin biosynthesis genes (aflJ-aflR) were determined in 254 (78.2%) A. flavus isolates using PCR-RFLP. Selected 100 isolates were detected as A. flavus by beta-tubulin sequence gene fragments and comparisons of sequence showed 96-100% similarity. 254 out of 325 isolates contained aflatoxin biosynthesis genes (gillOR), whereas 213 out of 254 isolates produced aflatoxin. The results acquired in study remarked that A. flavus was the species responsible for aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxin gene cluster in populations can be advantage for comprehension of the toxicological risk as well as the election of biocontrol isolates.