Diversity of fungus populations in soil could vary according to abiotic and biotic factors. On peanut cultivated soils, these can contaminate seeds, affecting their quality. This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of liming and sampling time, both of soil and peanut pods, fungus populations in the soil, specially in respect to possible contamination with Aspergillus , Rhizopus and Penicillium species. The experiment was installed in Planassol that was cultivated with peanut cv. Botutatu, during the raining season (October of 2001 to February of 2002). The experimental design was a subplot with four replications, in completely randomized blocks. Lime levels (0,0 and 1,8 t.ha-1) were applied to the plots in December of 2000, and the subplots were harvested during four intervals of 10 days, starting at 104 days after planting (DAP). Samples were evaluated regarding fungus population in the soil and their incidence in pods and seeds. The results allowed to conclude at these experimental conditions, the sampling time and application of lime do not interfere in the soil population of Aspergillus species. In samples collected at 104 and 114 DAP, period with lower water contents in the soil, there was an increase of Aspergillus flavus group isolates in the soil and more intense incidence of this fungus in pods and seeds.
Arachis hypogaea; population; soil; Aspergillus flavus group
