JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology 

Distribution of Aspergillus sp infestation in chilli fruits and their management in storage condition

Authors: R. LAKSHMIPATHY AND D. BHASKARA RAO

Abstract:

A study was initiated to determine the source of Aspergillus infestation in Chilli. The study was conducted in different parts of chilli growing areas of Guntur district. The population of the Aspergillus sp was estimated from the soils collected from chilli fields at different stages. The Aspergillus sp population was also estimated in drying yards and storage go downs using Martin’s Rose Bengal Agar. This investigation revealed a variation in the population of Aspergillus sp. in soil samples collected during different years from different chilli fields. The population was more during Kharif (1st year), followed by the second year, and least during the 3rd year. Among the three sampling times, the Aspergillus collected during harvesting than in the fruit-bearing and transplanting stage.

In an experiment conducted to know the inoculum potential of Aspergillus sp. from different sources, viz. the number of types was more in chilli fields during harvesting than in the drying yard and storage place, it revealed that inoculum potential and the number of types were more in chilli fields during harvesting than in drying yard and storage godowns. Furthermore, the Aspergillus and other fungi population was determined in fresh and dry chillies with and without stalks. In this experiment, it was noticed that the fungal population was more in stalks compared to only chillies. Further, a storage experiment was conducted to test the effect of destalking dry chillies before storage. In this experiment, dry chillies were stored at ambient temperature with and without stalks. This study revealed that, upon storage, the population of Aspergillus sp. was less in destalked chillies compared to chillies with stalks. This study revealed that soil is the primary source of Aspergillus infestation, especially during the harvesting stage; after infestation, Chilli stalks harbour more fungal inoculum, and after harvesting, if chillies were destalked and stored, it reduced the population of Aspergillus.

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