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SUMMARYResting Aspergillus Jlavus synthesized more aflatoxin on a medium with glucose than they did with any other substrate tested. D-Xylose and ethanol fostered the formation of kojic acid but not aflatoxin. Yields of kojic acid and aflatoxin responded differently to alteration in temperature, pH, surface-volume ratio of the culture medium, and the presence of various chemicals in the medium. P4C]Acetate as a substrate led to strongly labelled aflatoxin being formed. The simultaneous addition of unlabelled kojic acid did not lower the relative isotope content of the synthesized toxin. On the other hand, addition of unlabelled acetate to medium with [14C]kojic acid did reduce the relative isotope content of the toxin synthesized. It is concluded that the synthesis of kojic acid and aflatoxin follow separate pathways, and that kojic acid is not an intermediate in aflatoxin synthesis by resting cells of A . flavus.

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A new approach to destroy aflatoxin in toxic peanut meal has been described. It involves heat treatment of the meal at 80°C for ½ hour with hydrogen peroxide at a pH of 9.5. The destruction of aflatoxin is confirmed by biological tests, using ducklings and duck embryos.

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