Abstract:
The study was carried out from February, 2013 to May, 2013in Jimma
to assess the common spoilage fungi from infected fruits of tomato
(Lycopersiconesculentum) and orange (Camellia sinensis) in Jimma
town (Agip, Kochi and Bishishe) market sellers. Mycological
investigation on spoilage fungi from 40 (20 from each) apparently
infectedC. sinensisandL.esculentumwas carried out. Potato Dextrose
Agar was used for fungi isolation and purification following standard
procedures. Pure cultures were identified morphologically to the genus
level. A total of 56 spoilage moulds were isolated from the two
different types of deteriorating fruit samples, from which 52 (92.85 %)
isolates were identified and the remaining4(7.15) wereunidentified.
Thefungal species Aspergillusspp., (13.46) Penicilliumspp.,(19.2)
Rhizopusspp.,(1.92) Mucorspp., (5.76) Fusariumspp., (3.84),
Byssochlamysspp.(3.84) and Cladosporiumspp.(1.92) were found to be
associated with deterioration of orange. The fungal isolates associated
with the spoilage of tomatowere Aspergillusspp., (7.69)
Penicilliumspp., (9.61) Rhizopusspp., (7.69) Mucorspp., (9.61)
Fusarium, (9.61) and Moniliaspp. (5.76).Generally, of all isolated
moulds Penicilliumspp. was the dominant isolate 15(28.81%),
followed byAspergillusspp.11(21.15). Byssochlamysspp. And
Cladosporiumspp.were the least encountered 2 (3.84%) and 1(1.92%),
respectively. The results of this study indicate that fruits sold atAgip,
Kochi and Bishishe were massively infected with spoilage fungi due to
lack of selling parameters of fruits found in Jimma town market sellers.
So, appropriate measurement must be taken by responsible bodies to
reduce the fungal load and to enhance the quality of fruits sold in
Jimma town.
