Peanut Pod Invasion by Aspergillus flavus in the Presence of Meloidogyne hapla

'Argentine', 'Early Runner' and 'Florigiant' peanut cultivars were grown in methyl bromide treated soil in field microplots inoculated with: (i) Aspergillus flavus or (ii) A. flavus + Meloidogyne hapla. Nematode infection produced heavy root galling and light pod galling equally on all cultivars. A. flavus, A. niger, Cephalosporium spp., Colletotrichum sp., Curvularia spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma viride were isolated from shells and kernels. A significantly greater incidence and density of A. flavus was obtained from kernels of plants inoculated with both organisms than from kernels of plants receiving only the fungus. Differences were not significant, however, for incidence and density of A. flavus in shells or for the total of all fungal propagules in shells and kernels. Shells of 'Early Runner' contained significantly greater incidence and density of A. flavus than the other two cultivars; also, kernels of this cultivar contained more fungal propagules than kernels of 'Argentine.' A significantly larger number of total fungi was isolated from kernels of 'Argentine' than from 'Florigiant.' Aflatoxins were found only in two shell samples and not in kernels.