Post-Harvest Microbial Spoilage Of Dennettia Tripetala During Storage In Abia State:- Okeke, Chikaodhi E

ABSTRACT

Dennettia tripetala of the family Annonaceae, is the only species of the genus present in West Africa. The plant's diseases are not well known. Mature ripe and unripe fruits were purchased from Umuahia main market in Abia State of Nigeria and stored. Isolation, characterization and identification of the mycoflora were done by plating, washings from stored fruits and seeds on Potato Dextrose -Agar medium. A pathogenicity test was alsp carried out. Many yeasts and filamentous fungi were found to attack the fruits and seeds of the plant. The major filamentous fungi identified were Aspergillus niger, Fusarium moniliforme, F. so/ani, Botryodip/oida theobromae while the major yeast components identified were. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia sp. Some of the mycoflora penetrate fruits through wounds and the epidermis, damaging and discolouring the fruits. Others cause lesions of varying sizes and shapes through which the myceiia ramify, invade and rot the predisposed seeds. The study has established many mycoflora which attack D. tripetala fruits and seeds, and decimate their shelf life and hence cause low production.