Assessment of Fungal Species Associated With Banana and Orange Spoilage in Kwali Market Abuja, Nigeria

The research was conducted to determine the fungal species responsible for the spoilage of bananas and oranges in Kwali market, Abuja, Nigeria. Samples of the diseased fruits: Orange (Citrus sinensis) and banana (Musa paradisiaca) were collected randomly in Kwali market aseptically. The samples were surface sterilized and the homogenates were cultured on Potato Dext-rose Agar (PDA) and incubated at 28 oC for 5 days. The pure cultures obtained were identified morphologically using high and low-resolution objectives of a microscope. Data obtained was analyzed in frequency and percentage. The results of isolation is presented in frequency and percentages. The result obtained revealed the presence of five fungal genera represen-ted by eight species associated with the fruits spoilage. The most predominant fungal species are Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer with 25.0% and 20.83% in orange and 33.33% and 22.22 % in banana respectively. The pathogenicity test shows that Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger induce the highest rotten diameter (41 mm) on bananas, however, C. herbarum was found to have the lowest rotten diameter of 10 mm in diameter on oranges.Thus, spoilage of bananas and oranges in Kwali market, Abuja, Nigeria was caused by eight fungal species, the most prominent of which are Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer.