Isolation and characterization of fungi from the fruit of orange and tomato in jimma town market sellers, south west Ethiopia.

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.