Subsamples of a given lot of peanuts may vary greatly in aflatoxin content due to extreme variability in the degree of contamination of individual kernels. A micro method, adapted from the aqueous acetone procedure recently proposed by Pons and Goldblatt for the determination of aflatoxins in cottonseed products, was developed to permit accurate determination of aflatoxins in individual kernels and kernel sections. Use of this procedure permitted the topographic distribution of aflatoxins within single kernels to be mapped and indicated that the toxins are not uniformly distributed within contaminated kernels, even when the kernel contains a high level of aflatoxins. Although wrinkling or discoloration sometimes indicated that a kernel was contaminated, this type of physical damage was not found to be a reliable indication of aflatoxin content. Also it was noted that a few apparently sound and mature kernels contained high levels of aflatoxins.

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In controlled laboratory experiments heat sterilized and unautoclaved glanded and glandless whole cottonseed or decortieated kernels and sterilized cottonseed meals were found to be utilized as substrates by an aflatoxin elaborating strain of A. flavus with the production of high levels of aflatoxins B1, Be, G1, and Gg. Gossypol pigments in cottonseed products are apparently not a barrier to either mold invasion or aflatoxin production. Cottonseed hulls, lint cotton, and cottonseed linters were found to be poorly utilized as substrates for either mold growth or aflatoxin production.

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