EFFECT OF PEANUT TANNINS ON PERCENT SEED COLONIZATION AND INVITRO GROWTH BY ASPERGILLUS-PARASITICUS

The relationship between tannin content of mature, intact, cured peanut seed and percent seed colonization by Aspergillus parasiticus was examined. Tannin content in 9 cultivars, 7 of which were grown in both Tifton, Georgia and Puerto Rico, was significantly correlated with percent seed colonization. For data expressed as mg tannin/g intact seed and mg tannin/g seed coat, correlation coefficients with percent colonization were 0.74 and 0.76, respectively. Seed coat tannin, methanol-extracted, water-soluble material from peanut seed coats, was tested in vitro for effects on growth of A. parasiticus. As concentrations of tannins were increased to 7.5%, inhibition of fungal growth increased linearly to 88%; a concentration of 20% produced over 96% inhibition. © 1979 Kluwer Academic Publishers.