Effects of laeA deletion on Aspergillus flavus conidial development and hydrophobicity may contribute to loss of aflatoxin production

► laeA deletion mutants in A. flavus CA14 do not produce aflatoxins. ► The mutants produce reduced conidia on certain media. ► The mycelia in mutants is less hydrophobic and conidial chains are shorter. ► Expression of early aflatoxin biosynthesis genes in mutants is reduced. ► Expression of the 'late' genes, ver1 and omtA was not found.