The aim of this investigation was to study the pathogenicity of the fungus Penicillium sclerotigenum, the causal agent of the green-rot of yams (Dioscorea spp.) on different fruits and vegetables. A highly virulent isolate of the fungus was wound-inoculated on selected fruits and vegetables. A disease index ranging from 1 to 3 was adopted in order to rank disease susceptible. The results pointed out apple, pear and banana as highly susceptible; potato, beet, eggplant and taro as relatively susceptible and charlotte, carrot, papaya, zuchinni, sweet-potato and cassava as resistant to infection. These results indicated the need of special care when packaging and storage areas are utilized for both yams and other products susceptible to infection by P. sclerotigenum, particularly bananas, apples and pears. So far, P. sclerotigenum has been reported only on yams and these new finding also indicate that, besides yams losses, storage losses of apple, pear and banana may also occur. Penicillium sclerotigenum ability to infect these other products may represent an additional source of patulin in under storage conditions. This mycotoxin has well demonstrated mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects on animal and apple and pear are known to be good substrates for patulin production.
green-rot; host range; susceptibility
