Abstract

Impact of aflatoxin on seed germination and enzyme activities

Author(s): A.Janardhan, D.Subramanyam, A.Praveen Kumar, M.Reddi Pradeep, G.Narasimha

A fungal strain Aspergillus flavas was isolated from groundnut seeds infected with fungus and it was screened for aflatoxin production, and the effect of aflatoxin on seed germination and seed enzymes were assessed in the present study. Various cereals were soaked with aflatoxin at different time intervals, 3, 6, 12, and 24hrs of incubations and observed seed germinibility and enzyme activities such as protease and phosphatases. The seed germinability was vigorously reduced with increasing in seed incubation time and enzyme activities such as protease and alkaline phosphatases also drastically reduced in aflatoxin treated germinating seeds. Among the cereals used in this study the bean was highly sensitive to aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus flavas.