Rhizosphere regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis: Roles of root exudates, microbial interactions and environmental stress

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Aflatoxins are highly carcinogenic mycotoxins produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus and to a lesser extent Aspergillus parasiticus , pose threats to food safety, agricultural productivity and human health, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Traditional studies have emphasized host resistance, fungal genetics and abiotic stresses such as drought and heat and have often overlooked ecological processes in the rhizosphere. Root exudates and specialized metabolites are increasingly recognized as potential modulators of fungal colonization and aflatoxin biosynthesis through their effects on rhizosphere microbial communities and competitive microbial interactions. Environmental stresses further alter exudate composition and rhizosphere dynamics, producing context-dependent effects on toxin production. This review proposes that aflatoxin risk may be influenced by interplay of rhizosphere chemistry, microbial ecology and environmental conditions rather than from fungal genetics or abiotic stress alone. Understanding these interactions provides opportunities for sustainable mitigation through atoxigenic biocontrol strains, microbiome-based interventions and agronomic practices that influence root exudation and soil health. Field-based, multi-omics studies linking rhizosphere composition to functional outcomes are critical for developing scalable strategies for aflatoxin management.