The Effect of Harvest Dates on Production, Lipid Composition, Aspergillus Section Flavi Contamination, and Aflatoxin Production in High Oleic Acid Peanut Cultivars in Brazil

Thisstudy aimed to evaluate the effect of harvest dates on peanutyield, total lipid, fatty acid composition, phytosterols, Aspergillus section Flavi, and aflatoxinoccurrence in two important high oleic peanut cultivars (IAC 503 andIAC OL3) in Brazil. Peanut yield and shelling percentage variationwere not significant throughout the harvest dates for both cultivars.Total lipid concentration was higher in IAC 503 (48 g/100 g) thanin IAC OL3 (45 g/100 g) cultivar and increased significantly overharvest time. Stearic acid showed significant variation during theharvest dates among the fatty acids. Stigmasterol concentration increasedover harvest time in both cultivars. The harvest date influenced thequantities of Aspergillus section Flavi in the IAC OL3 cultivar. No sample showed contamination by aflatoxins.The proposed harvest dates slightly influenced the main compoundsevaluated. These preliminary results are promising, considering theversatility they could bring to the peanut production chain.