RESPONSE OF STORAGE FUNGI OF BUSH MANGO (Irvingia gabonensis Baill) SEEDS. TO SELECTTED BOTANICALS

Bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) seeds, commonly called ogbono, is used as condiment for soup preparation. Ogbono is attacked by several fungi during storage causing seed rot. This study evaluated effects of clove and African nutmeg for control of fungi causing rot of ogbono. Market samples were purchased from Orie-Ugba and Umudike markets, taken to laboratory for isolation and identification of fungi using standard laboratory techniques. Pathogenic fungi identified were controlled in vitro and in vitro using extracts of clove and African nutmeg. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. Rhizopus oryzae (38.30%), Fusarium oxysporum (23.84%), Aspergillus flavus (5.8%), A. tamarii (13.98%), A. niger (13.48%), A. ochraceus (0.32%) and Penicillium spp (4.24%) were isolated. Rhizopus oryzae, A. flavus, and A. niger recorded 100% seed colonization. Aspergillus tamarii had 90%, F. oxysporum 60%, while both Penicillium spp and A. ochraceus had 0%. Clove significantly (p=0.05) reduced mycelial growth of R. oryzae (12.37-31.20%) compared to control (0%). For A. niger, mycelia growth was reduced between 52.67-68.53%. A. flavus mycelia growth was reduced between 66.68-76.70%, while F. oxysporium was reduced between 58.76-63.45% by different treatments. For rot development, treatments significantly (p=0.05) reduced growth of different fungi; Fusarium oxysporum (77.50%) by clove, African nutmeg (77.50%) and clove+African nutmeg (59.25%). A. tamarii was reduced by 65.07% by clove, African nutmeg (64.51%) and clove+African nutmeg (50.07%) more than control (0.0%). Botanicals assessed considerably reduced growths of test fungi in vitro and in vivo; and could be employed in management of storage rot in Irvingia gabonensis seeds.