Quantitative analysis leads to potential for impervious peanuts

Quantitative analysis of infected peanuts using electrophoresis has led to the potential for hardier varieties of the food to be grown.

Writing in BMC Plant Biology, scientists explain how their quantitative analysis was able to identify resistance-associated proteins in peanuts infected pre-harvest by Aspergillus flavus.

A flavus and subsequent contamination by aflatoxin can impact animal and human health, along with peanut productivity, they explain.

By shedding light on the molecular mechanism behind peanut resistance to A flavus, they argue that progress towards resistant varieties can be made.

A total of five unique proteins and six up-regulated proteins were detected in resistant peanuts, compared with those susceptible to attack.

These up-regulated proteins in particular were more apparent in resistant varieties under drought stress and when challenged by A flavus.

BMC Plant Biology carries the latest research findings relating to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease in plants, along with other biological issues.