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Treatment of Peanuts with Dimethyl Sulfoxide and its Effect on Aflatoxin Production by Aspergillus flavus. G. W. Rambo, Former graduate student, Botany Department, University of Maryland, College Park 20742, Present address of senior author: Department of Life Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana 47907; G. A. Bean, Associate Professor, Botany Department, University of Maryland, College Park 20742. Phytopathology 63:936-937. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-936.

Peanut seeds (cultivar ‘Early Runner’) were treated with different concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to study its effect on the production of aflatoxins by Aspergillus flavus. Treatment of peanut seeds with 2.5% DMSO or higher concentration prior to inoculation with A. flavus, caused an inhibition of normal conidial pigmentation and approximately 62%-64% inhibition in aflatoxin production.