Identification of Fungi Colonizing the Rhizopshere of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Plants and their Pathogenicity on Healthy Tomato Fruits
Keywords:
Fungi, rhizosphere, tomato plants, Pathogenicity, tomato fruitsAbstract
Soil is a complex natural resource that represents a vast reservoir of biodiversity with several
billion prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. A study was carried out to identify fungal
organisms colonizing the rhizosphere of tomato plants in Makurdi and to test their
pathogenicity on healthy tomato fruits. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of
tomato plantations at Akpehe, Wurukum area of Makurdi. The soil samples were placed in
polyethylene envelopes and taken to the Botany Laboratory of the Benue State University
Makurdi for isolation of fungi. Fungi isolation was done using the serial dilution method.
Exactly 1 ml of 10 -4 dilution level of the inoculums were placed in Petri dishes after which
molten Sabouraud agar was aseptically introduced and incubated at room temperature for 5-7
days. Data collected were analyzed using Analysis of Variance and Chi-square. The results
showed that six fungi were isolated from the soil samples namely; Aspergillus niger,
Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium sp, Penicillium sp and Curvularia sp.
The frequency of fungi occurrence in the soil samples was significant across species (χ 2 =
17.20, df = 5. P=0.01). Aspergillus niger had the highest occurrence 10 (26.32%), followed
by Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus fumigatus each with 7 (18.42%) respectively,
Fusarium sp 6 (15.79), Penicillium sp. 5 (13.16%) and the least occurrence was Curvularia
sp. 3 (7.89%). Pathogenicity test revealed that rot induced by Rhizopus stolonifer was
significantly higher (10.52cm 2 ) on tomato fruits compared with that induced by Aspergillus
fumigatus (7.30cm 2 ), Aspergillus niger (6.87cm 2 ), Penicillium sp. (5.20 cm 2 ), Curvularia sp.
(5.00cm 2 ), Fusarium sp. (4.21cm 2 ) and the lowest was recorded in the uninoculated (control)
(1.45cm 2 ) fruits. The isolated soil borne fungi were pathogenic when inoculated on healthy
tomato fruits. Further research should be carriedout on the effect, identification and
interaction of both pathogenic and beneficial rhizosperic fungi on growth and development of
plants.
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