Morphological Identification of Fungal Pathogens Associated With Post-Harvest Diseases

Abstract

Post-harvest products are perishable and vulnerable to diseases that lead to quality deterioration and yield loss. One of the primary diseases found in most post-harvest products is caused by fungal pathogens. This study identified fungal pathogens associated with post-harvest products through morphological characterization. Fruit and vegetable samples were collected from traditional markets and fruit stores in Central Java. The results of fungal pathogens identification causing disease on post-harvest products showed that Pestalotiopsis sp and Neopestalotiopsis sp. were found on guava with white blackish mycelium, present concentric ring and blackspot, Aspergillus sp. on tomato with yellow-greenish mycelium, present concentric ring only, Botrytis sp. with grey mycelium and Rhizoctonia solani with white greyish mycelium and present of a concentric ring on apple, Rhizoctonia solani with greyish black and present of blackspot on mango, and Colletotrichum sp. with white greyish mycelium and present of a concentric ring, conidiomata and blackspot on citrus. This study concluded that the most fungal pathogens on post-harvest that we found were Pestaloptia sp., Rhizoctonia solani, Aspergillus sp., Botrytis sp., and Colletotrichum sp.