Its specific name flavus derives from the Latin meaning yellow, a reference to the frequently observed colour of the spores.

A. flavus infections can occur while hosts are still in the field (preharvest), but often show no symptoms (dormancy) until postharvest storage or transport.

[4] Aspergillus flavus is found globally as a saprophyte in soils and causes disease on many important agriculture crops.

Specifically, A. flavus infection causes ear rot in corn and yellow mold in peanuts either before or after harvest.

The incidence of A. flavus infection increases in the presence of insects and any type of stress on the host in the field as a result of damage.

Stresses include stalk rot, drought, severe leaf damage, and/or less than ideal storage conditions.

[3] Generally, excessive moisture conditions and high temperatures of storage grains and legumes increase the occurrence of A. flavus aflatoxin production.

[4] In mammals, the pathogen can cause liver cancer through consumption of contaminated feed or aspergillosis through invasive growth.

Individual hyphae strands are not typically seen by the unaided eye; however, conidia producing thick mycelial mats are often seen.

[5] Recently, Petromyces was identified as the sexual reproductive stage of A. flavus, where the ascospores develop within sclerotia.

Aspergillus flavus is complex in its morphology and can be classified into two groups based on the size of sclerotia produced.

[9] Aspergillus flavus overwinters in the soil and appears as propagules on decaying matter, either as mycelia or sclerotia.

[15] To ensure grains and legumes remain free of A. flavus infection, certain conditions must be incorporated before, during, and after harvest.

Air is pushed through the storage bins at low flow rates, which removes excess moisture and heat.

Regulation of air flow allows the moisture content in harvested products to remain at a constant level and decreases the temperature within the bins.

However, good irrigation practices aid in the reduction of stress brought upon by drought, which in turn, reduces the likelihood of pathogen infection.

Following application and colonization and in the presence of high moisture, AF36 growing seeds outcompete aflatoxin-producing strains of A. flavus.

In the United States, annual economic loss estimations of peanuts, corn, cottonseed, walnuts, and almonds are less severe when compared to Asia and Africa.

Investigation into the cause of death showed the primary food source, peanut meal, was infected with A. flavus.

Turkey necropsies showed aflatoxins targeted the liver and either completely killed the tissue cells or induced tumor formation.

The discovery of aflatoxins led to substantial changes in agricultural practices and regulations on how grains and legumes were grown, harvested, and stored.

Rainbow trout are highly sensitive at 20 ppb, causing liver tumor development in half the population.

Pregnant cows, mature pigs, cattle, and sheep exposed to low doses of aflatoxin over long periods develop weakening, intestinal bleeding, debilitation, reduced growth, nausea, no appetite, and predisposition to other infections.

[10] In humans, A. flavus aflatoxin production can lead to acute hepatitis, immunosuppression, hepatocellular carcinoma, and neutropenia.

[23][24] After the premature death of several Polish scientists following the 1973 opening of the tomb of the 15th century Polish King (and Lithuanian Grand Duke) Casimir IV Jagiellon, microbiologist Bolesław Smyk identified the presence of the fungus Aspergillus flavus in samples taken from the tomb, and media reports have suggested that the likely cause of the deaths were the aflatoxins produced by this fungus.