Abstract

ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGAL PATHOGEN FROM (ALLIUM CEPA L.) IN PILER VEGETABLE MARKET, ANDHRAPRADESH, INDIA

Dr. K. Ushasri* and B. Anil Kumar

ABSTRACT

Onion bulbs rots are caused by microorganisms especially fungi leading to economic loss. These fungi have been known to produce toxins which are injurious to human and animal health. The fungi isolated from the spoilt onion bulbs were Fusarium sp., Rhizopus sp., Aspergillus sp., The samples from Piler market, Chittoor dist, Andhrapradesh, India had the highest percentage distribution of fungi of 28.2% while those from permanent site had the least percentage distribution of 3.2 %. Aspergillus sp., had the highest percentage distribution of 60.89% in the spoilt onion bulbs while Rhizopus sp., had the least percentage distribution of 11.46 %. Aspergillus sp., also had the highest rot diameter of 29 mm while Rhizopus sp., had the least rot diameter of 14mm. Adequate storage facilities and handling practices would therefore minimize the deterioration of onion bulbs thereby ensuring its availability to the society all year round.

Keywords: Onion, Bulb rot, Deterioration, Handling practices.