Comparative proteomics provides insights on the basis of resistance to aflatoxin production in peanut (Arachis hypogea L.)

Aflatoxins are highly toxic secondary metabolites produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, which colonize a wide variety of food commodities especially under dry and hot conditions. We developed transgenic peanut expression four RNAi genes NsdC, Vea, Ver1 and aflR, by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. To understand the proteome changes in 4RNAi and WT control lines, a label-free quantitative proteomics analysis was performed at 0, 30, 48 and 72 h after A. flavus inoculation using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Several resistance proteins in the secondary metabolic pathways related to phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and fatty acid biosynthesis were strongly induced in the resistant genotype.