DETECTION OF ASPERGILLUS AND FUSARIUM SP. FROM COMMERCIAL MARKETS OF SARGODHA, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Different fungal species attack on vegetables and cause severe post-harvest losses. The objective of this research was to find out the cause of post-harvest diseases occurred in summer and in-vitro management by using different fungicides at various concentrations. Surveys of different markets of Sargodha were conducted for the collection of infected vegetables including potato, tomato, pumpkin, cucumber and eggplant. The fungi was isolated on PDA media and identified on the basis of morphological characteristics. Food poisoning technique was used for the evaluation of five fungicides against Aspergillus and Fusarium spp. For each fungicide three different concentrations 100, 200 and 300 ppm were used. Data showed that all five fungicides significantly inhibited mycelial growth of Aspergillus and Fusarium spp. Highest percent inhibition on Aspergillus sp. was noted by tebuconazole while, least percent inhibition was noted by metalaxyal+mancozeb at all concentrations. The same trend was found in mycelial growth of Fusariumsp. that was significantly inhibited by all fungicides. It is concluded that tebuconazole is the most effective fungicide against post harvest fungi i.e. Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. at 300 ppm concentration.