Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Fungal Pathogens Associated with White Yam (Dioscorea Rotundata) Spoilage in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State

Background: Food security and scarcity are among the most viable problems challenging Agricultural development in the third world today. Yam is one of the most important staple source of carbohydrate in Africa, but its production is hindered by post-harvest deterioration by diverse microorganisms. Methods; This study aimed to isolate and molecularly characterize the fungal pathogens associated with white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) spoilage in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. A total of 12 diseased and healthy white yam tubers were purchased from three selected storage locations in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State between the month of June and July, 2024. Three diseased and one healthy yam (control) each were randomly picked from the three different storage units. The collected yam from the three storage unit were labeled Benin, Okene and Kabba/Bunu yam. Fungal pathogens associated with the collected white yam were isolated and identified using standard methods. The level of pathogenicity of the isolated fungal pathogens associated with the white yam spoilage were ascertained using standard methods. The fungal pathogens isolated from the white yam spoilage were characterized and compared with the stored database analysis using online BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool). Results; The result of the fungal pathogens isolated and identified from the white yam spoilage across all the three selected locations in Kabba/Bunu local government area of Kogi State revealed the presence of predominant fungal pathogens associated with white yam spoilage; Aspergilus niger, Fusarium sp, Rhizopus nigricans, Penicilium sp, Trichoderma viridae, and Botrodiplodia theobrome while the level of pathogenicity result shows Aspergilus niger, Fusarium sp, and Penicilium sp, as the common virulent fungal pathogens associated with the white yam spoilage in the three different locations. The result of the molecular characterization of the fungal pathogens revealed uncommon species of fungal pathogens such as Penicillium monomenatosum, Penicillium basilianum and Fusarium solani associated with white yam spoilage across all the three locations in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. Conclusion: The study conclude that Benin white yam is better than Okene and Kabba white yam in respect to fungal pathogens load, resistance to disease caused by microorganisms and preferable for human consumption.