Abstract
Aflatoxin contamination in peanuts poses a significant challenge to global food safety and trade. Current strategies for managing aflatoxins for pre- and post-harvest aflatoxin contamination in peanuts include both conventional and advanced approaches. Traditional breeding efforts have identified several key genetic markers associated with resistance, and marker-assisted selection has been improving the efficiency of developing resistant peanut varieties. Biotechnological innovations, such as RNA interference (RNAi) and transgenic methods, have shown promising results in reducing aflatoxin production by Aspergillus species. In this chapter, we present in-depth analyses of peanut responses to aflatoxin contamination, incorporating insights from functional genomics studies. Molecular genetics tools for aflatoxin management, such as germplasm evaluation and the exploration of genetic factors influencing aflatoxin resistance, are highlighted. We present fundamental strategies for mitigating peanut aflatoxin contamination by integrating the application of omics tools, including functional genomics, to unravel molecular insights. Genomics-assisted breeding seems to be a very promising approach for developing aflatoxin-resistant peanut varieties. Finally, we propose future research directions, emphasizing addressing complex genetics factors regulating aflatoxin contamination, their underlying mechanisms, and the application of gene-editing technologies to develop peanut varieties with durable resistance.
