Isolation and Characterization of Surface Fungi from Local Fruits of Meghalaya, India

Author: Dhritiman Chanda, G.D. Sharma and Madhumita Dey

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Abstract

The diverse group of microbial communities especially fungi and bacteria colonize fruit surfaces are closely associated with the destruction of the quality, yield and food value. There are various environmental factors like moisture, temperature and humidity which are directly influence the occurrence of various surface fungi to infect the fruits. The present study was determined to study and characterize the diversity of surface fungi from some local fruits of Meghalaya. Six important types of fresh fruits and spoilt fruits were collected on the basis of highest consumption by the local people of Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya which include peach (Prunus persica), passion fruit (Passiflora nepalensis), pineapple (Ananas comosus), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), pear (Pyrus communis), amla (Emblica officinalis). A total of eight fungal genera were identified which showed severe infection on the selected fruit surface. High temperature, high relative humidity and moisture can cause fungi to be present on the surface of fruits. Therefore, care must be taken to minimize the occurrence the occurrence of these disease for healthy consumption by the native people of this region. This preliminary data help us to identify various surface fungi associated with contaminated fruits thereby to provide suggestive approaches to the local people for safety consumption of these indigenous fruits.

Keywords

Surface fungi, mycotoxins, secondary metabolites, relative abundance, bio-control agents

Conclusion

The present study was carried out to isolate and characterize the pathogenic fungi growing in local fruits which showed a significant occurrence of various pathogenic fungi. Due to high relative humidity and favorable conditions, the isolated fungi strains showed significant value of relative abundance and positive amylase activity and cellulose test. Therefore, there is a need to keep the fruits in a good place of storage condition for proper care to get rid of the attack of various pathogenic fungi which can lead to various human illness. Care should also be taken to consume the fruits with proper scientific knowledge by knowing the pathogenic fungi which may contaminate and thereby spoiled the fruits. Thus, present work help us to identify and estimate the abundance of surface fungi especially in the fruits growing in Meghalaya on basis of which future preservation. A suggestive approach must be carried out among the local people for the healthy consumption of these fruitsbased on proper scientific preservation methods and thereby to maintain the quality of fruits. The future work can be extended for molecular characterisation of the fungi and to estimate the percentage of pathogenesis with control measures for safety consumption and socio-economic aspects of this region.

References

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How to cite this article

Dhritiman Chanda, G.D. Sharma and Madhumita Dey (2023). Isolation and Characterization of Surface Fungi from Local Fruits of Meghalaya, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(2): 965-971.