Isolation and Identification of Fungal Pathogens Responsible for Postharvest Spoilage of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) In Dutse Metropolis, Jigawa State, Nigeria

Authors

  • Musa Abdullahi Department of Science Laboratory Technology, College of Science and Technology, Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, PMB 7040, Nigeria.
  • Abdulhadi Yakubu Department of Science Laboratory Technology, College of Science and Technology, Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, PMB 7040, Nigeria.
  • Garba Uba Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, PMB 7040, Nigeria.
  • Abdurrashid Adamu Department of General Studies, School of Vocational Education, Skills and Professional Studies, Federal Polytechnic, Daura, PMB 1012, Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria.
  • Isyaku Bello Department of General Studies, Jigawa State College of Education, Gumel, PMB 1002, Gumel, Jigawa State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54987/jemat.v12i2.1060

Keywords:

Postharvest spoilage, Cucumber, Fungal pathogens, Zyggosaccharomyces bailii, Food safety

Abstract

This study examined the postharvest spoilage of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) caused by fungal pathogens in retail outlets in Dutse Metropolis, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Twelve cucumber samples were collected from three locations: Sabuwar Kasuwa, Hakimi Street, and Yan Tifa, with four samples per site. Fungal isolates were identified using morphological characteristics. The predominant fungi were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus ustus, as well as the yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii, which was the most frequently isolated species. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that all isolates could cause rot, with Aspergillus ustus being the most virulent, resulting in a 47 mm diameter of rot and 25.5% weight loss. These results highlight the potential public health risks associated with fungal contamination, particularly the production of harmful mycotoxins. The study emphasizes the importance of adopting improved handling and storage practices to minimize food spoilage and ensure food safety. Regular monitoring of fungal contamination in retail outlets is recommended to protect consumer health.

References

Lerner BR, Dana MN. Cucumbers: Horticulture and Varieties. Purdue University Horticulture Publication; 2001.

Mateljan G. The World's Healthiest Foods: Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating. George Mateljan Foundation; 2006.

Sung JK, Park SY, Lee SY, Lee YJ, Lee JY, Jang BC, et al. Influence of Nutrient Supply on Growth, Mineral Nutrients and Carbohydrates in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Korean J Soil Sci Fertil. 2010;43(1):83-9.

Simons RJ. Cucumbers: Nutritional and health benefits. In: Nutritional Biochemistry of Vegetables. Elsevier Academic Press; 2003. p. 65-88.

Agrios GN. Plant Pathology. 5th ed. Elsevier Academic Press; 2005.

Naureen Z, Akram M, Khan SM, Jabeen F. Postharvest fungal pathogens of cucumber and their management. Pak J Bot. 2009;41(1):239-45.

Zakari G, Zakari SS, Talba U. Potential of Aqueous Extract of Jatropha curcas on the Control of Post-harvest Rot of Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis L.) Fruits in Wukari. Int J Agric Biol Sci. 2019 June 30;3(3):92-9.

Fawole MO, Oso BA. Laboratory Manual of Microbiology. 5th ed. Spectrum Books Limited; 2007.

Soma T. Post Harvest Diseases of Some Selected Fruits, Their Causes and Management [Internet] [PhD Thesis]. Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University; 2020. Available from: https://archive.saulibrary.edu.bd/xmlui/handle/123456789/3290

Okigbo RN, Agbata CA, Echezona CE. Effects of leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica and Chromolaena odorata on postharvest spoilage of fungi rot of yams in storage. Curr Res J Biol Sci. 2010;2(1):9-12.

Loureiro V, Malfeito-Ferreira M. Spoilage yeasts in the wine industry. Int J Food Microbiol. 2003;86(1-2):23-50.

Fleet GH. Yeasts in foods and beverages: Impact on product quality and safety. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2007;18(2):170-5.

Pitt JI, Hocking AD. Fungi and Food Spoilage. 3rd ed. Springer Science & Business Media; 2009.

Abass AB, Coulibaly O, Hanafi A, Abdoulaye T. Post-harvest food losses and quality deterioration in the value chain: Implications for agribusiness development in Africa. Food Secur. 2020;12(4):785-97.

Gupta V, Biswas D, Roy S. A comprehensive review of biodegradable polymer-based films and coatings and

Downloads

Published

23.12.2024

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Musa Abdullahi, Abdulhadi Yakubu, Garba Uba, Abdurrashid Adamu, Isyaku Bello

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

How to Cite

Isolation and Identification of Fungal Pathogens Responsible for Postharvest Spoilage of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) In Dutse Metropolis, Jigawa State, Nigeria. (2024). Journal of Environmental Microbiology and Toxicology, 12(2), 75-78. https://doi.org/10.54987/jemat.v12i2.1060