Editing Peanut (section)

=== Pests and diseases ===
If peanut plants are subjected to severe drought during pod formation, or if pods are not properly stored, they may become contaminated with the mold ''[[Aspergillus flavus]]'' which may produce [[carcinogenic]] substances called [[Aflatoxin#Pathology|aflatoxins]]. Lower-quality peanuts, particularly where mold is evident, are more likely to be contaminated.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hirano |first1=S |last2=Shima |first2=T |last3=Shimada |first3=T |date=August 2001 |title=[Proportion of aflatoxin B1 contaminated kernels and its concentration in imported peanut samples] |journal=Shokuhin Eiseigaku Zasshi |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=237–42 |doi=10.3358/shokueishi.42.237 |pmid=11817138 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The USDA tests every truckload of raw peanuts for aflatoxin; any containing aflatoxin levels of more than 15 parts per billion are destroyed. The peanut industry has manufacturing steps to ensure all peanuts are inspected for aflatoxin.<ref>7 CFR 2011 – Part 996a{{Full citation needed|date=November 2012}}</ref> Peanuts tested to have high aflatoxin are used to make peanut oil where the mold can be removed.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 26, 2017 |title=Why Georgia farmers decided to shell their own peanuts |url=https://newfoodeconomy.org/georgia-peanut-farmers-face-an-unlikely-challenge-shelling/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704053851/https://newfoodeconomy.org/georgia-peanut-farmers-face-an-unlikely-challenge-shelling/ |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |access-date=July 4, 2019 |website=New Food Economy |language=en-CA}}</ref>

The plant leaves can also be affected by a fungus, ''Alternaria arachidis''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Species Fungorum - Names Record |url=https://www.speciesfungorum.org/Names/NamesRecord.asp?RecordID=308498 |access-date=August 7, 2023 |website=www.speciesfungorum.org}}</ref>