MYCOFLORA OF FRUITS AND SEEDS OF SOME JATROPHA SPP. AND RICINUS COMMUNIS

Abstract

Fungi associated with the fruits and seeds of some Jatropha species and their related species Ricinus communis were investigated in Benin City. Samples were collected from the Nigerian Institute for Oil palm Research (NIFOR), and Egor villages in the outskirts of Benin City. Some seeds of J. curcas for sowing obtained from the Global Renewable Energy Development Company (GREDC) in Ilorin were also investigated. Isolation and subculture of isolates on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), identification of isolates and pathogenicity of fruit isolate were carried out. Isolates from the seeds were identified as Fusarium and Fusoma spp. from J. curcas, Fusarium sp, from J. gossipifolia and Fusarium and Cornularia spp. from Ricinus communis. The isolate from the fruit of J. curcas identified as Colletotrichum sp. gave positive pathogenicity results on fruits of J. curcas, J. gossipifolia and R. communis but proved negative on J. multifida. Fusarium and Colletotrichum spp. seem to be commonly associated with the seeds and fruits of the species respectively. Being a promising crop on bio-oil production, the common presence of Fusarium species may have implication on its storage and oil quality.