Advances in Crop Science and Technology
Open Access

Abstract

This is the first study of post-harvest mycoflora of fruits from Ad Darb region of Jizan province. A total number of 14 samples of fruits from the local markets of the place with post-harvest spoilage fungi were collected and screened for mycoflora during March 2015 to February 2017. The mycoflora was cultured on potato dextrose agar plates and Czapek Dox agar plates. A qualitative and quantitative assessment of mycoflora was carried out by the fungal cultures on the petri plates and the slides were identified by microscopic and macroscopic characteristics. A total of 64 fungal isolates represented by 9 fungal genera were isolated from the samples belonging to the three classes of fungi i.e. Oomycetes, Zygomycetes and Ascomycetes. The post-harvest mycoflora was represented by Pythium, Rhizopus, Saccharomyces sp., Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Dresclera, Fusarium, Penicillium and Sphaerotheca. The most predominant genera were Aspergillus followed by Fusarium and Penicillium. Percentage Disease Incidence ranged from 20-30%. The information on the diverse groups of post-harvest mycoflora can help in effective management and minimization of post-harvest economic losses. Apart from the economic losses the post-harvest mycoflora are pathogenic. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium isolated are highly mycotoxigenic and are a potential risk to human health. They produce mycotoxins which are responsible for several diseases. drsyedafatima@hotmail.com

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