Molecular characterization and aflatoxin biosynthetic gene profiles of Aspergillus flavus associated with maize and chili in Bangladesh.

Aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus flavus populations in Bangladesh show high genetic diversity with variable biosynthetic gene profiles across maize and chili.

• Why it matters: Understanding the genetic variation and distribution of aflatoxin biosynthesis genes is crucial for developing targeted food safety strategies in tropical agroecosystems where contamination poses health risks.
• What they did: The study analyzed 38 A. flavus isolates from maize and chili using morphological assessment, ITS sequencing, SSR genotyping, and PCR detection of four key aflatoxin pathway genes, revealing genetic clusters and gene variability.
• The result: Findings demonstrate widespread presence of the regulatory gene aflR and variability in structural genes, providing a molecular baseline for future monitoring and crop-specific aflatoxin control efforts.