Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Aspergillus Flavus

Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic and opportunistically pathogenic filamentous fungus of the genus Aspergillus, distributed worldwide in soil and decaying organic matter. It is best known as a major contaminant of agricultural commodities, colonising grains, oilseeds, maize, groundnuts, tree nuts, and stored produ…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 6 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 21× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2766-869X 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic and opportunistically pathogenic filamentous fungus of the genus Aspergillus, distributed worldwide in soil and decaying organic matter. It is best known as a major contaminant of agricultural commodities, colonising grains, oilseeds, maize, groundnuts, tree nuts, and stored produce, where it causes spoilage and degrades crop quality. Its principal significance lies in the production of aflatoxins, a group of potent mycotoxins, most notably aflatoxin B1, that are hepatotoxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic. Aflatoxin contamination of food and feed poses serious risks to human and animal health, and the toxins can pass into animal-derived foods such as milk and dairy products through carry-over from contaminated feed, sustaining concern for food safety along the supply chain. Beyond its toxigenic and plant-pathogenic roles, A. flavus can cause invasive and allergic aspergillosis in susceptible hosts. Growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis are favoured by warmth, humidity, and crop stress, making climate and storage conditions key determinants of contamination. Research addresses detection of the fungus and its toxins, Fungal Diversity in soil and stored environments, the public-health consequences of aflatoxicosis, and strategies for control, including good storage practice, resistant cultivars, biocontrol, and natural plant-derived antifungal and detoxifying agents. A. flavus thus links mycology, agriculture, and public health through its dual capacity for spoilage and toxin production.

Research published in this journal

6 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 6 articles above have been cited 21 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Aspergillus Flavus, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Fungal Diversity (ISSN 2766-869X).

Journal editorial board
Sudha Chaturvedi · United States

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.