Iran Finds Way to Battle Aflatoxin in Pistachio Using Plasma Technology

Plasma is used when it is important to combine materials or to specifically change their surface properties.

Nowadays, plasma technology is utilized in almost all sectors of industry, and new applications are being developed constantly.

Pistachio nuts are highly susceptible to contamination by aflatoxins, harmful substances that are produced by certain molds.

Not only aflatoxins are known to cause cancer, but they have also been linked to a wide variety of other diseases.

“By using plasma technology, we have been able to fight against aflatoxin in pistachio crops, which is completely effective without side effects,” Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization, said.

Nuclear technology has a wide range of applications and the world has benefited from this capacity and technology for decades, he added.

Eslami pointed out that the presence of aflatoxin causes the pistachio shipments to be returned from export destinations.

“If just one contaminated pistachio is found in the pistachio shipment, the entire shipment will be returned.”

Eslami went on to say that the immediate priority is to deal with the pest of citrus orchards known as the Mediterranean fly.

“We have implemented the project in several farms, the largest of which was 40 hectares, with more than 97 percent success.”

“Dealing with the psyllid pests is on the agenda of the Atomic Energy Organization,” he said, adding that it can be carried out more widely in pistachio orchards with the participation of the private sector.

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