National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruit is cultivated for its nutritional and medicinal values. It is however, lost due to deterioration resulting from fungal pathogens. This research was undertaken to characterize the pathogens associated with fruit rot of cucumber collected from four retail outlets located in different parts of Maiduguri Metropolis. Assessment of the diseased cucumber fruits from the locations showed that Gamboru vegetable market was the most heavily infested location with all the fungal isolates. Aspergillus spp. constituted the highest (48%) of fungal isolates from all the locations. Isolations from diseased cucumber fruits recorded Zygosaccharomyces bailii (Isolation frequency = 22.0%), A. niger (18.4%), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (15.3%), A. flavus (14.8%), S. resus (12.7%), A. ustus (11.0%), A. wentii (3.1%) and A. oryzae (3.0%). All the fungal isolates were found to be pathogenic on cucumber fruits, with A. ustus being the most destructive, followed by S. resus and Z. bailii and least pathogenic was A. niger. Rot occurring on shelf reduces shelf life and market value and altogether renders fruits unfit for human consumption. Careful handling of the fruits and regularly checking to remove all spoiled fruits will ensure longer shelf life and prevent spread of these rot pathogens.
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