Colonization and Biochemical Changes in Peanut Seeds Infected with Aspergillus flavus1

Abstract Seeds from three commercially grown peanut cultivars and two “resistant” genotypes had varying degrees of resistance to colonization by the storage fungus, Aspergillus flavus. Peanut genotypes PI337409 and PI337394F had significantly higher resistance to colonization than other tested cultivars. Some of the biochemical changes in peanuts resulting from A. flavus infestation included: Reduction of oil and protein content, rapid increase in free fatty acids and changes in the amino acid composition.