PJB-2019-322
MYCOFLORA ASSOCIATED WITH POSTHARVEST ROTTING OF BITTER YAM, DIOSCOREA DUMENTORUM PAX IN NSUKKA AGRO ECOLOGICAL ZONE, NIGERIA.
Dr Christopher Chikaodili Onyeke
Abstract
This study was to recover fungi associated with postharvest rotting of bitter yam, Dioscorea dumentorum corms and cormels in Nsukka Agroecological Zone, Nigeria. Corms and cormels showing signs of fungal infections were picked from farmers in four randomly selected towns in the zone. The towns included, Nsukka, Orba, Ibagwa and Obollo-Afor. Five (5) samples each were picked from three (3) randomly selected farmers. Samples were packaged in sterile polythene bags, labeled accordingly and moved to the laboratory for studies. The fungal isolates were identified using both cultural and molecular techniques. Results showed that mycoflora of rotting of bitter yams in the Zone were, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae Galactomyces candidum and Rhizopus delemar. The percentage frequencies of occurrence of the fungal organisms ranged from 14.03% to 26% with A. niger recording the highest (26%) while A. flavus recorded the least (14.03%).Pathogenicity tests were conducted with the isolated fungi in conformity with Koch`s postulates and they produced rots (diameter) ranging from 1.70 cm to 2.40 cm with R. delemar recording the highest rot diameter (2.40 cm) while A. niger produced the least (1.70 cm) and they were successfully reisolated with the same identity.
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