FUNGAL PATHOGENS ASSOCIATED WITH FRUIT ROT OF EGG-PLANT IN UYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

1.1 Introduction

Eggplant is an agronomically important non-tuberous solanaceous crop grown primarily for its large oval fruit. Eggplant is native to India and China and was probably introduced to Europe by Arabic traders and then brought to North America by early European settlers. In popular medicine, eggplant is indicated for the treatment of several diseases, including diabetes, arthritis, asthma and bronchitis.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Eggplant is susceptible to several diseases and pests that cause serious crop losses. This problem has been addressed by hybridizing eggplant with wild resistant Solanum species, which present a wide genetic diversity and are source of useful agronomic traits. However, this approach is limited by sexual incompatibilities (Collonier et al. 2001) and difficulties in obtaining fertile progenies (Gleddie et al. 1986). In addition, traditional improvement methods may be hampered by the scarcity of natural resistance sources for some important diseases, impairing the obtention of resistant varieties (O’Brien 1983; Melo & Costa 1985; Lin & Xiao 1995). For example, no natural resistance sources are known for anthracnosis (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), southern wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) and the most common fungal disease of eggplant in Brazil, the Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae).

Eggplant fruits are subject to attack by fungal pathogens leading to postharvest rots and diseases. In addition, several groups have provided evidence that eggplant extracts have a significant effect in reducing blood and liver cholesterol rates in humans (Khan 1979; Jorge et al. 1998) and adult rats (Silva et al. 1999). Nasunin, a major component of anthocyanin pigment of eggplant, has been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation (Igarashi et al. 1993). More recently, free radical scavenging and iron chelating activities of nasunin were demonstrated by electron spin resonance (Noda et al. 1998; 2000). Furthermore, anti-mutagenic activity of pheophytin components from eggplant fruit extracts acting against several chemical mutagens was demonstrated by the Salmonella/microsome assay (Yoshikawa et al. 1996a; 1996b).

Solanum L., a complex and large genus of the family Zacharia and Philip (Philip, 2010) and Gambari et al. (2009) isolated Solanaceae has several species which are referred to as Alternaria solani, Fusarium solani, Colletotrichum eggplant or African garden egg (Daunay,2001). Eggplant is one of the gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium sp.,most commonly consumed fruit vegetables in tropical Rhizopus nigricans, Curvularia lunata, Botryodiplodia . Africa, in quantity and value probably third after tomato theobromae, Mucor sp., Rhizoctonia solani and onion (Grubben, 2004).

Eggplant constitute important fruit and leafy Aspergillus niger from rotten fruits of eggplant.vegetables and provide dietary supplements especially, Alternaria solani, A. alternata, A. flavus, M. hiemalis in China, India, South East Asia and other West African and R. stolonifer were identified (Sumera,2009) to be associated countries (Doganlar,2002). Some of these species are important for their and responsible for spoilage of eggplant. The fungal medicinal qualities (Chinedu, 2011). These nutritional and medicinal pathogens isolated as the causative agents of eggplant benefits have helped enhance their wide-spread fruit rot were Phomopsismelongenae and cultivation across continents and cultural boundaries (Grubben,2004). Collectotrichumme longenae (Akwaji, 2016). Naureen et al. (Naureen, 2009)

Fifteen species are commonly found in Nigeria (Gbile, 1985) reported that Fusarium solani, Geotrichum sp. And out of which Solanum melongena L.,S.ethiopicum Phytophthora capsici were responsible for postharvest L. and S. macrocarpon L. are the most popular (Danny;Oyelana,2009).

Therefore, in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Fungal Pathogens Associated with Fruit Rot of Egg-Plant.

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1.3 Statement of Problem

Eggplant is susceptible to several diseases and pests that cause serious crop losses. This problem has been addressed by hybridizing eggplant with wild resistant Solanum species, which present a wide genetic diversity and are source of useful agronomic traits. However, this approach is limited by sexual incompatibilities (Collonier et al. 2001) and difficulties in obtaining fertile progenies (Gleddie et al. 1986). In addition, traditional improvement methods may be hampered by the scarcity of natural resistance sources for some important diseases, impairing the obtention of resistant varieties (O’Brien 1983; Melo & Costa 1985; Lin & Xiao 1995). For example, no natural resistance sources are known for anthracnosis (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), southern wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) and the most common fungal disease of eggplant in Brazil, the Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae).

Brinjal crop is subjected to the attack of many diseases which causes damage in all growth stages limiting production. The diseases are caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes or environmental factors. Among them fungal and bacterial diseases are 5 common in brinjal fields. Common fungal diseases of eggplants include the Dampingoff caused by (Pythium sp, Rhizoctonia solani), Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria melongenae, Cercospora leaf spot caused by Cercospora melongenae, Phomopsis blight or fruit rot caused by Phomopsis vexans and Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp melongenae. Out of them Phomopsis fruit rot caused by Phomopsis vexans and Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melongenae are the most devastating diseases of brinjal growing fields. The major economic part of the brinjal plant is the fruit only and the fruit is heavily infected mainly by fungal pathogen i.e. Phomopsis vexans (Das, 1998; Khan, 1999). The cultivators and the retail sellers are facing heavy economic losses on account of fruit rotting during cultivation.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to determine the Fungal Pathogens Associated with Fruit Rot of Egg-Plant using Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were set out as follows:

1. To isolate and identify fungi associated with post-harvest diseases of garden egg fruits.
2. To determine pathogenicity of the isolated fungi on healthy fruits.
3. To evaluate the roles of the isolated fungi in deterioration of nutrient values of garden egg fruits.
4. To evaluate the effect of common disinfectants on fruits of garden egg.
5. To evaluate the efficacy of some fungicides on the fungi.

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1.5 Significance of Study

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.6 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Fungal Pathogens Associated with Fruit Rot of Egg-Plant using Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State farm as a case study.

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1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet and questionnaire).