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Background: Groundnut is one of the most valuable cash crops and food sources in low lands of Ethiopia. In spite of its food and economic importance, very few studies have been conducted yet on the factors that influence groundnut production including aflatoxigenic fungi in different socio-ecological conditions. Therefore, this study aimed at i) assessing groundnut varietal diversity ii) to determine the existing use values and management practices iii) to isolate and determine the prevalence of Aspergillus species associated with groundnut seed.Methods: Field data were collected using structured and semi-structured interviews from 144 general informants and 24 key-informants. 88 groundnut seed samples were collected from farmers’ fields for Aspergillus species isolation. Diversity of groundnut was analyzed using the Shannon diversity index. Frequency of Aspergillus contamination was determined using plate counting methods.Results: In the study areas, six varieties were grown with varying distribution. Shannon diversity indices ranged from 0.20 to 1.27 in warm sub-humid lowland and warm moist lowland agro-ecological zones, respectively. Of the four varieties observed in East Hararghe, oldhale was the most commonly grown variety (66% of groundnut growers), whereas farmers interviewed in East Wellega zone grow bure variety (87% of growers), due to greater drought tolerance and higher yields relative to other varieties. Results of the fungal species analysis showed infestation of groundnut seeds by A.niger, A. flavus, A. prasaticus and A. ochraceous. Of the four Aspergillus species, A. niger and A. flavus were the most prevalent, with frequency ranging from 17.8 to 37.5% and 14.4 to 32.5%, respectively. However, when we compare infection rates among varieties, we did not find statistically significant differences in the infection rates of different varieties collected from similar agroecology of the study area.Conclusion: Different varieties of groundnut were grown with varying distribution based on the farmers’ preference criteria in different socio-ecological zones of the study areas. Although these varieties vary in terms of morphological features and disease resistance, there is not sufficient evidence to conclude they are differentially resistant to Aspergillus infection. Therefore, further breeding for more varieties using farmer selection criteria in mind and research identify field management measures against Aspergillus will further increase groundnut production and hence income for resource poor farmers |
