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Anti-poison magic: The survival strategy of yellow mold and the deadly aflatoxin!
In soils around the world, yellow mold (Aspergillus flavus) demonstrates its vigorous vitality with its saprophytic and pathogenic properties. The fungus is best known for its proliferation in cereals, legumes and nuts, especially during harvesting, storage and transportation, when changes in the surrounding environment can trigger infection and lead to crop rot losses.
The name "flavus" comes from the Latin word for "yellow" because its spores are often yellow in color.
In the field, yellow mold infections may be present before harvest but usually do not show any symptoms until the crop enters storage or transportation. During this phase, the fungi begin to show their destructive properties and may lead to the production of highly toxic aflatoxins, which are lethal to mammals. In addition, yellow mold can also invade humans and animals, especially those with weakened immune systems, causing infections such as pulmonary aspergillosis.
Infected Hosts and Pathology
Yellow mold is found throughout the world and attacks many important agricultural crops, especially cereals, legumes and nuts. In corn, yellow mold causes ear rot, and in peanuts it causes yellow mold. These infections usually appear during the growing stage of the crop or after harvest. The risk of infection with yellow mold increases when environmental conditions are unfavorable, including excessive humidity and high temperatures.
The growth of yellow mold is closely related to environmental conditions, especially changes in humidity and temperature, which will directly affect its growth and toxin production.
Disease cycle
Yellow mold overwinters in soil residues, forms conidia, and is spread by wind and insects in the spring. These spores may enter and infect the fruit of a crop plant after the plant is damaged. In addition, insects such as bed bugs and stink bugs can also contribute to its spread and serve as secondary sources of infection.
Environmental conditions and management
As a heat-tolerant fungus, F. fulvicidalis can grow in high temperatures where many other fungi cannot survive. Studies have shown that keeping the moisture content of grains and beans within a certain range (no more than 11.5%) and keeping the storage environment low can effectively reduce the chance of yellow mold growth. Cleanliness and efficient storage management, as well as air circulation systems to reduce humidity in the storage environment, are important means of preventing yellow mold infection.
Increasing crop disease resistance and improving irrigation management can reduce crop stress caused by drought, thereby reducing the risk of infection with yellow mold.
The impact of aflatoxin
Aflatoxin is a toxic compound produced by the yellow mold, which can have a serious impact on protein synthesis and various functions of the body. As early as 1960, about 100,000 turkeys in the UK died after eating peanut powder contaminated with yellow mold, triggering extensive safety reviews and reforms to agricultural management measures.
When aflatoxin produced by yellow mold was discovered, countries quickly adjusted agricultural practices and established strict standards for the harvesting and storage of grains.
The ultimate test: the intersection of lethality and immunity
In addition to agricultural losses, the health threat posed by yellow mold toxins cannot be underestimated. For people with compromised immune systems, the risk of infection can rise dramatically, leading to lung infections and other fatal health problems. As research on Xanthophyll and the toxins it produces becomes increasingly in-depth, continued exploration and management remain important challenges for both the medical and agricultural communities.
How do we balance the demands of agricultural production with health risks?
