Identification and control of Fungi associated with the post-harvest rot of Solenostemon rotundifolius (Poir)J.K. Morton in Adamawa State of Nigeria.

Abstract

Investigation into the fungi associated with the post-harvest rot of Solenostemon rotundifolius (Poir).J.K.Morton, Hausa Potato was carried out in the teaching and research laboratory of the Department of Biological sciences of the University.  Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used and the data obtained were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the means that were significant were separated using the Least Significant Difference (LSD). Four fungi Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillum expansum and Rhizopus stolonifer were consistently isolated identified in pure cultures from the diseased tubers collected from the two markets in Yola. Mean percentage incidence showed that A. niger was the most prevalent with 19.69% followed by F. oxysporum 16.47%, R. stolonifer 14.38% and P. expansum 12.81%. The efficacy of Wood ash, saw dust and guinea corn chaff as control material against fungal rot development was used.  The three plant materials reduced the rot caused by the three organisms.

Key words: Solenostemon rotundifolius, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium expansum and Rhizopus stolonifer.