Biochemical and physiological response of maize (Zea mays L.) to aflatoxin (Aspergillus niger) infestation

Aflatoxin is a toxic fungus produced by group of Aspergillus (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus paraciticus, Aspergillus niger etc.) which adversely affects humans, animals and plants. In human beings aflatoxin alters blood profiles, reduces immune function and damages liver tissues, while in animals aflatoxin attack reduces milk production, reduces nutrient absorption and retards infant growth and its exposure on plants leads to reduction in protein, fat, moisture, ash, germination, photosynthesis, respiration and root shoot length of plants. To evaluate the hazardous effect of Aspergillus niger on maize a lab experiment was conducted in the laboratory of National Institute of Food Science and Technology and in greenhouse of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The seeds of 10 maize varieties (Golden, Sultan, Sahiwal 2002, Izpopulation, Ev 6089, Sadaf, Soneri, Ev 1089, Agati 2000 and Agati 85) were inoculated with Aspergillus niger under controlled conditions. Data was collected for biochemical and physiological characters and subjected to two factor factorial completely randomized designs (CRD) and cluster analyses for the estimation of genetic diversity. According to two factor factorial CRD genotypes, treatments and genotypes treatment interaction showed significant results for protein, ash, fiber, moisture contents, germination rate, fresh root shoot weight, plant biomass, dry shoot weight, photosynthesis rate, respiration rate, grain texture and 1000 grain weight while non-significant for root length, fat contents, shoot length, fresh root shoot weight, dry root weight, fresh root shoot ratio for length and weight. While cluster analysis showed that cluster 1 contain only one variety (1), cluster 2 contains 6 varieties (2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9) while cluster 3 contains three varieties (3, 8 and 10) with respect to similarities in their characters.