CULTURAL CHARACTERIZATION AND PATHOGENICITY OF FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPOILAGE POSTHARVEST TOMATO FRUITS IN DIFFERENT LOCAL MARKETS OF DHAKA CITY

Abstract

Tomato fruits are more susceptible to spoilage by fungi because it contains large amount of water. This study was conducted at Plant Pathology Laboratory, Sher-eBangla

Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207 during October 2019 to September 2020 on cultural characterization and pathogenicity of fungi associated with the spoilage of postharvest tomato fruits in different local markets viz Kawran bazar, Farmgate, Taltola, Agargaon bazar, Townhall and Krishi market of Dhaka city. From infected tomato, post-harvest disease infecting fungi were incubated and isolated on moist chamber followed isolation on PDA media.The lowest percentage incidence found in Taltola bazar (20%) and the highest in Farmgate (48.89%). Both in winter season and summer season, highest percentage incidence occurred in Farmgate bazar (48.89%). Seven different genera of fungi were isolated and identified viz. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium spp., Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria solani, Rhizopus stolonifer and Geotrichum candidum. In winter season, Fusarium oxysporum occurred most frequency (23.46%) Geotrichum candidum (2.04%) had the lowest percentage frequency. In summer season, Alternaria solani occurred most frequency (23.91%) while Geotrichum candidum (3.26%) and Penicillium sp (3.26%) had the lowest percentage frequency. The identified diseases were Fusarium rot of tomato, Aspergillus ear rot of tomato, Aspergillus black mold disease, Black spot disease of tomato, Blue mold disease, Rhizopus rot disease and sour rot disease of tomato. Pathogenicity test showed that all the isolated fungi were pathogenic to their respective host.