Aflatoxin contamination of peanuts results from growth in peanut
kernels by toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus
parasiticus. Soil is the main source of inoculumfor A. flavus/A. parasiticus
and as peanut fruits develop underground, pods are in direct contact
with the soil fungal populations (Horn and Dorner, 1998).