Phenol and Mineral Content in Relation to Infection and Weight Loss by Botryodiplodia Botryodiplodia Theobromae Pat., in Market Samples of Colocasia Esculenta L.

Abstract

This study was carried out to relate infection and weight loss by Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat, in Colocasia esculenta L. corms with their phenol and/or calcium content. Corms were sourced from two major root and tuber markets in Osiele and Kila, in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. The infection and weight loss experiment was in CRD (complete randomized design), with two treatments (the two markets) and seven replicates. Corms were inoculated with a 10-day old pure culture of B. theobromae and incubated for 10 days, after which infection and weight was determined. The infected corms were then analysed for phenol, calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron and sulphur content. Corms from Kila had infection and weight loss 41% and 37% respectively lower than corms from Osiele.Phenol and calcium content of the corms from Kila were 89.20 mg/100gdm and 19.8 mg/100gdm respectively, significantly higher than those of the Osiele corms which were 81.59 mg/100gdm and 18.9 mg/100gdm respectively. High phenol with its antimicrobial activity as well as higher calcium conferring higher structural integrity against deterioration are adduced as the reason for lower infection and weight loss in the corms from Kila. The corms from Kila were also superior in terms of higher levels of six other nutrient minerals namely N,