Identification and environmentally friendly control of post-harvest diseases of pumpkin

Pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) are grown all around the world for a variety of reasons ranging from?agricultural purposes to commercial and ornamental sales. The pathogens causing the rot of pumpkin?in the world include fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Three hundred and sixty-six (366) fruits of pumpkins?were studied in Pela, Gaya and Kulinyi districts of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The?diseased samples (fruits) were randomly purchased. Of all the districts visited, Kulinyi has the highest?percentage of disease samples (43.82%) while the least is Gaya district with 21.35%. Potato Dextrose?Agar (PDA) was used for the isolation of pathogens and these gave Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillusniger, Aspergillus flavus, and Phytophthora capsici. All the fungal isolates exhibited different degree of?pathogenic effect on the pumpkin fruits. The pathogens are susceptible to treatment both in-vitro and?in-vivo control trials with wood ash and mango leaf at p ? 0.05. Inhibition improved with increased in?concentration of the wood ash and mango leaf. Rice chaff treatment equally proved worthwhile with?significant inhibition compared to the control at p ? 0.05. SourcesIdentification and control of post-harvest rot of?pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) in Hong, Adamawa StateKazi N., Chimbekujwo I. B. and Anjili S. M.Department of Plant Science, School of Life Sciences, Moddibo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State,Nigeria.African Journal of Plant Sciences,?Vol. 13(9), pp. 239-245, September 2019 DOI: 10.5897/AJPS2018.1708 Article Number: 5D94B9D61645http://www.academicjournals.org/AJPS?Picture Cucurbita spp. by?MedicalNewsToday.com -?What are the health benefits of pumpkins? ?