In California, aflatoxin contamination of almond, fig, and pistachio has become a serious problem in recent years due to long periods of drought and probably other climatic changes. The atoxigenic biocontrol product Aspergillus flavus AF36 has been registered for use to limit aflatoxin contamination of pistachio since 2012 and for use in almond and fig since 2017. New biocontrol technologies employ multiple atoxigenic genotypes because those provide greater benefits than using a single genotype. Almond, fig, and pistachio industries would benefit from a multi-strain biocontrol technology for use in these three crops. Several A. flavus vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) associated with almond, fig, and pistachio composed exclusively of atoxigenic isolates, including the VCG to which AF36 belongs to, YV36, were previously characterized in California. Here, we report additional VCGs associated with either two or all three crops. Representative isolates of 12 atoxigenic VCGs significantly (P < 0.001) reduced (>80%) aflatoxin accumulation in almond and pistachio when challenged with highly toxigenic isolates of A. flavus and A. parasiticus under laboratory conditions. Isolates of the evaluated VCGs, including AF36, constitute valuable endemic, well-adapted, and efficient germplasm to design a multi-crop, multi-strain biocontrol strategy for use in tree crops in California. Availability of such a strategy would favor long-term atoxigenic A. flavus communities across the affected areas of California, and this would result in securing domestic and export markets for the nut crop and fig farmer industries and, most importantly, health benefits to consumers.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0301 basic medicine", "aflatoxins", "0303 health sciences", "almonds", "Food Contamination", "15. Life on land", "Ficus", "Prunus dulcis", "6. Clean water", "California", "03 medical and health sciences", "aspergillus flavus", "Aflatoxins", "13. Climate action", "Pistacia", "pistachios", "Microbial Interactions", "figs", "california", "Aspergillus flavus"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-08-18-1333-RE"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1094/pdis-08-18-1333-re"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Plant%20Disease", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1094/pdis-08-18-1333-re", "name": "item", "description": "10.1094/pdis-08-18-1333-re", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1094/pdis-08-18-1333-re"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0199127", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-20T16:18:05Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2018-06-20", "title": "Fungal communities associated with almond throughout crop development: Implications for aflatoxin biocontrol management in California", "description": "Interactions between pathogenic and nonpathogenic fungal species in the tree canopy are complex and can determine if disease will manifest in the plant and in other organisms such as honey bees. Seasonal dynamics of fungi were studied in an almond orchard in California where experimental release of the atoxigenic biopesticide Aspergillus flavus AF36 to displace toxigenic Aspergillus strains has been conducted for five years. The presence of the vegetative compatibility group (VCG) YV36, to which AF36 belongs, in the blossoms, and the honey bees that attend these blossoms, was assessed. In blossoms, A. flavus frequencies ranged from 0 to 4.5%, depending on the year of study. Frequencies of honey bees carrying A. flavus ranged from 6.5 to 10%. Only one A. flavus isolate recovered from a blossom in 2016 belonged to YV36, while members of the VCG were not detected contaminating honey bees. Exposure of pollinator honey bees to AF36 was detected to be very low. The density of several Aspergillus species was found to increase during almond hull split and throughout the final stages of maturation; this also occurred in pistachio orchards during the maturation period. Additionally, we found that AF36 effectively limited almond aflatoxin contamination in laboratory assays. This study provides knowledge and understanding of the seasonal dynamics of Aspergillus fungi and will help design aflatoxin management strategies for almond. The evidence of the low levels of VCG YV36 encountered on almond blossoms and bees during pollination and AF36's effectiveness in limiting aflatoxin contamination in almond provided additional support for the registration of AF36 with USEPA to use in almond in California.", "keywords": ["honey bees", "Crop and Pasture Production", "Crops", " Agricultural", "0301 basic medicine", "aflatoxins", "570", "General Science & Technology", "Science", "Veterinary and Food Sciences", "Crops", "Food Contamination", "Flowers", "Microbiology", "630", "California", "Trees", "03 medical and health sciences", "aspergillus flavus", "Aflatoxins", "Species Specificity", "Animals", "Nuts", "california", "Pest Control", " Biological", "Pollination", "2. Zero hunger", "Agricultural", "Q", "R", "almonds", "Feeding Behavior", "Biological Sciences", "Bees", "Biological", "Prunus dulcis", "Emerging Infectious Diseases", "Infectious Diseases", "Pistacia", "Food Microbiology", "Medicine", "Pest Control", "Research Article", "Aspergillus flavus", "Mycobiome"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://escholarship.org/content/qt84b3j5md/qt84b3j5md.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199127"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PLOS%20ONE", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1371/journal.pone.0199127", "name": "item", "description": "10.1371/journal.pone.0199127", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1371/journal.pone.0199127"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-06-20T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10568/100306", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-20T16:21:49Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-02-25", "title": "AtoxigenicAspergillus flavusIsolates Endemic to Almond, Fig, and Pistachio Orchards in California with Potential to Reduce Aflatoxin Contamination in these Crops", "description": "In California, aflatoxin contamination of almond, fig, and pistachio has become a serious problem in recent years due to long periods of drought and probably other climatic changes. The atoxigenic biocontrol product Aspergillus flavus AF36 has been registered for use to limit aflatoxin contamination of pistachio since 2012 and for use in almond and fig since 2017. New biocontrol technologies employ multiple atoxigenic genotypes because those provide greater benefits than using a single genotype. Almond, fig, and pistachio industries would benefit from a multi-strain biocontrol technology for use in these three crops. Several A. flavus vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) associated with almond, fig, and pistachio composed exclusively of atoxigenic isolates, including the VCG to which AF36 belongs to, YV36, were previously characterized in California. Here, we report additional VCGs associated with either two or all three crops. Representative isolates of 12 atoxigenic VCGs significantly (P < 0.001) reduced (>80%) aflatoxin accumulation in almond and pistachio when challenged with highly toxigenic isolates of A. flavus and A. parasiticus under laboratory conditions. Isolates of the evaluated VCGs, including AF36, constitute valuable endemic, well-adapted, and efficient germplasm to design a multi-crop, multi-strain biocontrol strategy for use in tree crops in California. Availability of such a strategy would favor long-term atoxigenic A. flavus communities across the affected areas of California, and this would result in securing domestic and export markets for the nut crop and fig farmer industries and, most importantly, health benefits to consumers.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "0301 basic medicine", "aflatoxins", "0303 health sciences", "almonds", "Food Contamination", "15. Life on land", "Ficus", "Prunus dulcis", "6. Clean water", "California", "03 medical and health sciences", "aspergillus flavus", "Aflatoxins", "13. Climate action", "Pistacia", "pistachios", "Microbial Interactions", "figs", "california", "Aspergillus flavus"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-08-18-1333-RE"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10568/100306"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Plant%20Disease", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10568/100306", "name": "item", "description": "10568/100306", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10568/100306"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10568/96134", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-20T16:21:49Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2018-06-20", "title": "Fungal communities associated with almond throughout crop development: Implications for aflatoxin biocontrol management in California", "description": "Interactions between pathogenic and nonpathogenic fungal species in the tree canopy are complex and can determine if disease will manifest in the plant and in other organisms such as honey bees. Seasonal dynamics of fungi were studied in an almond orchard in California where experimental release of the atoxigenic biopesticide Aspergillus flavus AF36 to displace toxigenic Aspergillus strains has been conducted for five years. The presence of the vegetative compatibility group (VCG) YV36, to which AF36 belongs, in the blossoms, and the honey bees that attend these blossoms, was assessed. In blossoms, A. flavus frequencies ranged from 0 to 4.5%, depending on the year of study. Frequencies of honey bees carrying A. flavus ranged from 6.5 to 10%. Only one A. flavus isolate recovered from a blossom in 2016 belonged to YV36, while members of the VCG were not detected contaminating honey bees. Exposure of pollinator honey bees to AF36 was detected to be very low. The density of several Aspergillus species was found to increase during almond hull split and throughout the final stages of maturation; this also occurred in pistachio orchards during the maturation period. Additionally, we found that AF36 effectively limited almond aflatoxin contamination in laboratory assays. This study provides knowledge and understanding of the seasonal dynamics of Aspergillus fungi and will help design aflatoxin management strategies for almond. The evidence of the low levels of VCG YV36 encountered on almond blossoms and bees during pollination and AF36's effectiveness in limiting aflatoxin contamination in almond provided additional support for the registration of AF36 with USEPA to use in almond in California.", "keywords": ["honey bees", "Crop and Pasture Production", "Crops", " Agricultural", "0301 basic medicine", "aflatoxins", "570", "General Science & Technology", "Science", "Veterinary and Food Sciences", "Crops", "Food Contamination", "Flowers", "Microbiology", "630", "California", "Trees", "03 medical and health sciences", "aspergillus flavus", "Aflatoxins", "Species Specificity", "Animals", "Nuts", "california", "Pest Control", " Biological", "Pollination", "2. Zero hunger", "Agricultural", "Q", "R", "almonds", "Feeding Behavior", "Biological Sciences", "Bees", "Biological", "Prunus dulcis", "Emerging Infectious Diseases", "Infectious Diseases", "Pistacia", "Food Microbiology", "Medicine", "Pest Control", "Research Article", "Aspergillus flavus", "Mycobiome"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://escholarship.org/content/qt84b3j5md/qt84b3j5md.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10568/96134"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PLOS%20ONE", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10568/96134", "name": "item", "description": "10568/96134", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10568/96134"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-06-20T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "20.500.11769/552491", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-20T16:22:12Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-08-18", "title": "Assessing almond response to irrigation and soil management practices using vegetation indexes time-series and plant water status measurements", "description": "Current water scarcity scenario has led to the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices intended to improve water use efficiency. The present work evaluates during three agricultural campaigns (2018-2020) the response of a young almond orchard to two management practices in terms by combining remote sensing indexes (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI; and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Indexes, SAVI) and physiological/ morphological measurement (stem water potential, \u03a8stem; trunk perimeter and canopy diameter). The management practices included (I) sustained deficit irrigation and (II) soil management. Severe deficit irrigation resulted in lower vegetation indexes (VI) values, \u03a8stem and tree dimensions (13 %, 23 % and 14 % lower, respectively) than those obtained for full irrigation strategy; whereas moderate deficit irrigation did not affect any of the parameters analysed. The presence of vegetation cover in the inter-row resulted in a VIs increase (19-42 %) and in lower tree dimensions (reductions of 7-8 % for trunk perimeter and 0.34-0.37 m for canopy diameter) when compared to bare soil treatment, but did not have any influence on \u03a8stem. The present study proves the suitability of remote sensing and physiological measurements for assessing almond response to the different management practices.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "Soil management", "Almonds", "F06 Irrigation", "01 natural sciences", "12. Responsible consumption", "Vegetation index", "Sentinel 2", "Remote sensing sustainable agriculture", "P33 Soil chemistry and physics", "F40 Plant ecology", "2. Zero hunger", "precision agriculture", "Precision agriculture", "Sustainable agriculture", "Water use efficiency", "Vegetation cover", "F07 Soil cultivation", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Remote sensing", "15. 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