The Effects of Deficit Irrigation on the Early Splitting of Pistachio Nuts and Aflatoxin Contamination

Abstract

<span><em>Background</em><span>: The cracking of pistachio nuts is the major source of mold contamination as well as pests and aflatoxins.<br /><span><em>Materials and methods</em><span>: The effects of deficit irrigation on pistachio-nut cracking were evaluated at two irrigation intervals<br /><span>(25 days and 45 days) and five omissions of the irrigation time. The frequencies of hull early splitting and cracking were<br /><span>determined in nuts.<br /><span><em>Results</em><span>: All and all, long irrigation intervals and deficit irrigation since late April until early June were critical and<br /><span>increased the early splitting rate (up to 90%) in comparison with regular irrigation. The highest frequencies of the early<br /><span>splitting of pistachios were observed due to the drought stress at early June ranging from 7.7 percent to 9.6 percent. Deficit<br /><span>irrigation in July increased the rate of pistachio hull cracking significantly. The averages of the hull early splitting and<br /><span>cracking formation were by 37 percent and 18.5 percent higher in 45 days of irrigation intervals compared with 25 days,<br /><span>respectively. The contents of B<span>1 <span>and B<span>2 <span>aflatoxins in hull early splitting and cracking were 223.4 µg.kg<span>-1 <span>and 25.47 µg.kg<span>-1<span>,<br /><span>respectively. In hull cracking fruits, aflatoxin B<span>1 <span>and B<span>2 <span>were 111.06 µg.kg<span>-1 <span>and 9.71 µg.kg<span>-1<span>, respectively.<br /><span><em>Conclusion</em><span>: In general, to reduce the risks of aflatoxins in pistachio nuts, it is critical to manage irrigation in April and<br /><span>June.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>