The effects of wax and cuticle of peanut seed coat on reducing the infection and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus were studied. Experiments showed that when the wax on seed coat was removed with chloroform or/and cuticle removed with KOH (or cutinase), fungal infection rate and afiatoxin content in the seeds were significantly increased. Aflatoxin content in seeds with wounded seed coat was higher than that in intact seeds after being inoculated with A. flavus. Scanning electron microscopic observation on seed coat revealed that most of resistant seeds were rough in appearance and had adundant wax deposits on seed surfaces. It is indicated that the wax and cuticle play an important role in preventing fungal penetration.
