Identification of fungi associated with post-harvest diseases and physicochemical analysis of sweet and sour Pomegranates in Haramoush Valley, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

Abstract

Pomegranate is an emerging fruit in Haramoush, Valley, Gilgit Baltistan (GB), due to favorable climatic conditions. However, pomegranate fruits face challenges from multiple pathogenic fungi, which affect them during postharvest periods. This study delves into the analysis of the physicochemical attributes, isolation, identification, growth rates, and pathogenicity of fungal isolates responsible for postharvest diseases on both wounded (WF) and non-wounded fruits (NWF) of sweet and sour pomegranate varieties. Physicochemical analysis unveils variations in pH, Total Soluble Solids (TSS), and moisture content between sour and sweet pomegranates, with sweet pomegranates exhibiting elevated pH (3.48), TSS (15), and moisture content (75.15%) compared to sour pomegranates. Fungal isolates, categorized into the Penicillium and Aspergillus genera based on colony characteristics, were more abundant in sweet pomegranates. Four isolates, each of Penicillium (Pen-1 -Pen-4) and Aspergillus (Asp-1 -Asp-4), were identified from sweet pomegranates. Pen-2 displayed the highest pathogenicity on sweet pomegranates for both WF and NWF, followed by Pen-3. Asp-3 exhibited the highest pathogenicity among Aspergillus isolates on both WF and NWF. In contrast, Pen-5 and Pen-6 demonstrated the highest pathogenicity on sour pomegranate fruits for both WF and NWF. Additionally, these isolates' average radial growth rates revealed distinctive growth patterns among Penicillium and Aspergillus isolates, with Pen-2 and Asp-3 displaying the highest growth rates. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the physicochemical attributes and pathogenic fungi affecting sweet and sour pomegranate varieties in the Haramoush Valley, GB.