Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona

Aspergillus flavus infects a wide range of crops, including pistachio, and subsequent aflatoxin contamination results in significant economic losses. Application of biocontrol products based on nonaflatoxigenic (atoxigenic) strains of A. flavus is one of the most effective tactics for controlling af...

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Autores principales: Ching’anda, C., Atehnkeng, J., Bandyopadhyay, R., Callicott, K., Orbach, Michael J., Cotty, P.J., Mehl, H.L.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Scientific Societies 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/128195
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author Ching’anda, C.
Atehnkeng, J.
Bandyopadhyay, R.
Callicott, K.
Orbach, Michael J.
Cotty, P.J.
Mehl, H.L.
author_browse Atehnkeng, J.
Bandyopadhyay, R.
Callicott, K.
Ching’anda, C.
Cotty, P.J.
Mehl, H.L.
Orbach, Michael J.
author_facet Ching’anda, C.
Atehnkeng, J.
Bandyopadhyay, R.
Callicott, K.
Orbach, Michael J.
Cotty, P.J.
Mehl, H.L.
author_sort Ching’anda, C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Aspergillus flavus infects a wide range of crops, including pistachio, and subsequent aflatoxin contamination results in significant economic losses. Application of biocontrol products based on nonaflatoxigenic (atoxigenic) strains of A. flavus is one of the most effective tactics for controlling aflatoxins in crops. Both risk of aflatoxin contamination and effectiveness of biocontrol are influenced by the extent to which A. flavus spores move into pistachio tree canopies during periods of nut development. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate spatial and temporal population dynamics of A. flavus, including the applied biocontrol strain AF36, in canopies of pistachio orchards in Arizona. Propagule densities of A. flavus were quantified on leaf samples collected from lower, middle, and upper canopies from spring through harvest in 2018 and 2019. A. flavus propagule densities peaked during periods of high temperature and rainfall in 2018 (up to 600 CFU/g) and 2019 (up to 23 CFU/g), which coincided with nut development and maturation. The applied biocontrol strain AF36 was detected at all canopy heights but overall propagule densities were greater in the upper and middle canopy (mean = 70 CFU/g) compared with the lower canopy (mean = 47 CFU/g). Results suggest that June to August is the period during which A. flavus inoculum increases in Arizona pistachio orchards and, to most effectively displace aflatoxin-producing fungi in tree canopies, biocontrol applications should precede this period. In addition, this study demonstrates that soil-applied biocontrol strains can successfully disperse throughout the canopies of commercial tree nut orchards.
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spelling CGSpace1281952025-10-26T12:55:15Z Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona Ching’anda, C. Atehnkeng, J. Bandyopadhyay, R. Callicott, K. Orbach, Michael J. Cotty, P.J. Mehl, H.L. maize aspergillus flavus aflatoxins plant health food security Aspergillus flavus infects a wide range of crops, including pistachio, and subsequent aflatoxin contamination results in significant economic losses. Application of biocontrol products based on nonaflatoxigenic (atoxigenic) strains of A. flavus is one of the most effective tactics for controlling aflatoxins in crops. Both risk of aflatoxin contamination and effectiveness of biocontrol are influenced by the extent to which A. flavus spores move into pistachio tree canopies during periods of nut development. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate spatial and temporal population dynamics of A. flavus, including the applied biocontrol strain AF36, in canopies of pistachio orchards in Arizona. Propagule densities of A. flavus were quantified on leaf samples collected from lower, middle, and upper canopies from spring through harvest in 2018 and 2019. A. flavus propagule densities peaked during periods of high temperature and rainfall in 2018 (up to 600 CFU/g) and 2019 (up to 23 CFU/g), which coincided with nut development and maturation. The applied biocontrol strain AF36 was detected at all canopy heights but overall propagule densities were greater in the upper and middle canopy (mean = 70 CFU/g) compared with the lower canopy (mean = 47 CFU/g). Results suggest that June to August is the period during which A. flavus inoculum increases in Arizona pistachio orchards and, to most effectively displace aflatoxin-producing fungi in tree canopies, biocontrol applications should precede this period. In addition, this study demonstrates that soil-applied biocontrol strains can successfully disperse throughout the canopies of commercial tree nut orchards. 2022-01-01 2023-01-25T13:33:06Z 2023-01-25T13:33:06Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/128195 en Limited Access Scientific Societies Ching’anda, C., Atehnkeng, J., Bandyopadhyay, R., Callicott, K., Orbach, M.J., Cotty, P.J. & Mehl, H.L. (2022). Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona. Plant Health Progress, 23(3), 272-280.
spellingShingle maize
aspergillus flavus
aflatoxins
plant health
food security
Ching’anda, C.
Atehnkeng, J.
Bandyopadhyay, R.
Callicott, K.
Orbach, Michael J.
Cotty, P.J.
Mehl, H.L.
Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona
title Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona
title_full Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona
title_fullStr Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona
title_full_unstemmed Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona
title_short Spatial and temporal population dynamics of Aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in Arizona
title_sort spatial and temporal population dynamics of aspergillus flavus in commercial pistachio orchards in arizona
topic maize
aspergillus flavus
aflatoxins
plant health
food security
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/128195
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