Abstract Isolation and identification of fungi pathogens causing kolanut spoilage across Markets in Awka was carried out using standard laboratory procedures. Randomized block sampling method was used in sample collection for the study. Potato dextrose agar was used to prepare innocula for the diseased kolanuts collected. The results of the study revealed the presence of Aternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. Aspergillus niger was absent only in kolanut samples from Amansea with a percentage occurrence of 75%. Aspergillus flavus was present in kolanut samples from all the Markets except Nkwo Amaenyi with percentage occurrence of 75%. Alternaria sp. was seen in kolanut samples from all locations with 100% occurrence while Fusarium oxysporum was seen in samples of kolanut species collected from Nkwo Amaenyi and Amansea respectively with percentage occurrence of 50%. The results showed that all the fungi pathogens had progressive but slow increase in pathogenicity from day 4 to the 7th day. Although, A. flavus had higher pathogenicity on the fresh kolanut samples when compared with other fungi isolates. The study indicated the disease-causing organisms of kolanut across Awka Markets and prescribed ways of identifying and classifying them.
N et al. (Tue,) studied this question.