D AY O K , O
K U M , F. O
Department of Science Laboratory Technology
Plateau State Polytechnic
Barkin Ladi, Nigeria.
Abstract
A study on the survey of Post harvest losses and fungi associated with spoilage of tomatoes was carried out. The target of tomato types were those commonly grown in Jos. A survey was carried out to access the causes of post harvest losses. Factors such as varieties, state maturity, treatment, grading of tomatoes, packing material used, type of packaging material used and means of transportation were investigated. Disease causing fungi that were suspected to cause the post harvest damage were isolated, identified and re-inoculated to wounded fresh tomatoes to establish pathogenicity. The survey revealed that all factors investigated differed significantly at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study showed twelve fungi pathogens were Isolated from the infected tomato samples at varying percentage frequencies of occurrences (PFO) and differed significantly at 0.05 level of significance with Geotrichum candidum being the most prevalent (16.61%). The PFO of the Isolates in Terminus, Farin Gada, Building material market and farms were 28.21%, 38.79% 15.502 and 17.50% respectively. The various fungal isolates encountered exhibited various spoilage levels on the tomatoes. Proper handling, packing, grading, and transportation can be used to curb post harvest losses of tomato.
Keywords: Tomatoes, Post-harvest Losses and Fungi
International Journal of Food and Agricultural Research Vol.14 No. 1&2 © 2019 by The Development Universal Consortia. All Rights Reserved