Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fungal deterioration of melon seeds stored in jute sacks and polyethylene bags in Ago-Iwoye, southwestern Nigeria

  • Published:
Mycopathologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laboratory studies were carried out in the Department of Biological Sciences, Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, southwestern Nigeria, to determine the extent of fungal deterioration of melon seeds stored in two types of storage bags viz; jute and polyethylene bags. Melon seeds of varieties Tc139 and V2 were stored in jute and polyethylene bags under ambient conditions using the 2 × 2 factorial design (variety vs type of bag) for 12 months. The moisture content (mc), incidence of visible mouldiness (ivm) and germinability of the stored seeds were determined monthly. The mc of Tc139 ranged from 6.1 to 6.7% in jute and 6.2 to 6.5% in polyethylene bags. The ivm which was initially 2.1% increased to 10.7% and 5.5% in jute and polyethylene bags respectively, after 12 months in storage. The germination percentage decreased from 96.3% to 28.7% and 45.3% in jute and polyethylene bags, respectively. The mc of V2 stored in jute and polyethylene bags varied from 5.9 to 6.4%, and 5.8 to 6.2%, respectively. The ivm increased from 1.8% before storage to 8.9% and 4.8% in jute and polyethylene bags, respectively, after 12 months. The percentage seed germination declined from 98.0%to 37.3% in jute and 48.7% in polyethylene bags after 12 months. Decreased incidence of field fungi namely: Alternaria, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Cladosporium, Fusarium and Macrophomina phaseolina was accompanied by simultaneous increase in storage fungi viz: Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Rhizopus with prolonged storage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tindall HD. Vegetables in the tropics. Hong Kong: ELBS MacMillan, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Oke OL. Nutritive value of Nigerian water melon. Nature 1965; 207: 192.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Oyolu O. A qualitative and quantitative study of seed types in egusi (Colocynthis citrullus L.) Trop Sci 1977; 19: 51–61.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Girgis P, Said F. Lesser known Nigerian edible oils and fats I. Characteristics of melon seed oil. J Sci Fd Agric 1968; 19: 615–616.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Oyenuga VA, Fetuga BL. Some aspects of the biochemistry and the nutritive value of water melon seed (Citrullus vulgaris). J Sc Fd Agric 1975; 26: 843–845.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ajibola OO, Eniyemo SE, Fasina OO, Adeeko KA. Mechanical expression of oil from melon seeds. J Agric Engng Res 1990; 45: 45–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Oyenuga VA Nigerias food and feed stuffs, their chemistry and nutritive value. 3rd ed., Ibadan: Ibadan University Press, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Nwokolo E, Sim, JS. Nutritional assessment of defatted oil seed meal of melon (Colocynthis citrullus) and flutted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentales Hook) by chick assay. J Sci Fd Agric 1987; 38: 237–246.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Burkill HM. The useful plants of West Africa. Cambridge, UK: Whitefreds Press Ltd., 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Omidiji MO. Tropical Cucurbitaceous Oil Plant of Nigeria Vegetables for the humid tropics. A newsletter and Annual Communication among research workers. 1977; 2: 37–39.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Davey PM, Elcoate S. Moisture content, relative humidity equilibria of tropical stored products. Part I: Cereals Stored Prod Int 1965; 11: 439–467.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Eggins HOW. Isolation and culture of fungi causing deterioration in Nigerian palm oil. Mycopath Mycol Appl 1963; 22: 201–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Eggins HOW, Coursey DC. Thermophilic fungi associated with Nigerian oil palm produce. Nature 1964; 203: 1083–1084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Kuku FO. A preliminary study of mould deterioration of Nigerian palm kernel. Rep Nig Stored Prod Res Inst Techn Rep 1971; 3: 67–73.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kuku FO. Some mould induced changes in palm kernels. Rep Nig Stored Prod Res Inst Techn Rep 1975; 8: 31–37.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Odia EO. Studies on seed-borne fungi of soybean (Glycine max L.) in Nigeria [Ph.D Thesis] Ibadan, Nigeria: University of Ibadan.

  17. AOAC. Official methods of analysis. 13th edition. Washington DC: Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Adebajo LO. Survey of mycoflora, aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in stored rhizomes of Cyperus esculentus. Mycopathologia 1993; 124: 41–46.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Christensen CM. Deterioration of stored grains by fungi. Bot Rev 1957; 23: 280–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Clarke JH. Fungi in stored products. Trop Stored Prod Int 1968; 15: 3–14.

    Google Scholar 

  21. ISTA. International rules for seed testing, 1976 Seed Sci Technol 1976; 3 (Suppl.): 1–228.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Mondal GC, Nandi D, Nandi B. Studies on deterioration of some oil seeds in storage I: Variation in seed moisture infection and germinability. Mycologia 1981; 73: 157–166.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mills JT, Sinha RN. Wallace HAC. Assessment of quality criteria in stored rapeseed, a multivariate study. J Stored Prod Res 1978; 14:121–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Raper KB, Fennell DF. The Genus Aspergillus. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Barnett HL, Hunter BB. Illustrated Genera of Imperfect Fungi. Minneapolis: Burgrress Publishing Co., 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Booth CH. Fusarium: Laboratory Guide to the Identification of Major Species, Kew, Surrey, UK: Commonwealth Mycological Institute, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Pitt JI. The Genus Penicillium and its Teleomorphic States, Eupenicillium and Talaromyces. New York: Academic Press, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Christensen CM. Kaufmann HH. Maintenance of quality in stored grains and seeds. Agric Extension Service, University of Minnesota Extension Folder 226, 1965, 4 pp.

  29. Jorgensen J. Decline in incidence of some fungi of barley seeds during storage under farm – like conditions in Denmark. Acta Agricultura Scand 1976: 26: 59–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ahmad SK. Mycoflora changes and aflatoxin production in stored blackgram seeds. J Stored Prod Res 1993; 29: 33–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Lukow OM, White NDE Sinha RN. Influence of ambient storage conditions on the bread making quality of two hard red spring wheats. J Stored Prod Res 1995; 31: 279–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Paster N. Effect of modified atmosphere and mycotoxin development in stored products pest control. In: Lawson TJ, ed. Proceedings of a symposium organised by the British Pest Control Association and the Society of Food Hygiene Technology at the University of Reading 1987; 25–27 March 1987: 53–61.

  33. Oyeniran JO. The role of fungi in deterioration of tropical stored products. Paper presented at the symposium on microorganisms in storage. In: The 2nd International Working Conference on Stored Product Entomology, Nigeria, 1978.

  34. Hayma J. The storage of tropical agricultural products. 2nd ed. CTA, Wageningen, Netherlands, 1990. 69 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Christensen CM, Sauer DB. Microflora in storage of grains and their products. American Association of Cereal Chemists Inc. St. Paul, Minnesota, 1984. 219 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Adesuyi SA, Cornes MA. Moisture content survey of palm kernels at the time of grading in the Western State of Nigeria. Rep Nigerian Stored Prod Res Inst Tech Rep 1970; 9: 53–57.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Oyeniran JO. Studies on the mould deterioration of commercial cocoa in Nigeria. [Ph.D. Thesis.] Ibadan, Nigeria: University of Ibadan, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Christensen CM. Loss of viability in storage and microflora Seed Sci Technol 1973; 1: 547–562.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Harrington JF. Problems of seed storage. In: Hey W. ed. Seed Ecology. London: Butterworth, 1973: 251–263.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Harman GE, Nash G. Deterioration of stored pea seeds by Aspergillus ruber: evidence for involvement of a toxin. Phytopathol 1972; 62: 209–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Marley PS, Manzo SK, Ebenebe AC. Comparative storability of three sorghum cultivars in Nigeria. Trop Sci 1997, 37: 65–70.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria

    S.A. Bankole

  2. Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    B. Ikotun & E.J.A. Ekpo

Authors
  1. S.A. Bankole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Ikotun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E.J.A. Ekpo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bankole, S., Ikotun, B. & Ekpo, E. Fungal deterioration of melon seeds stored in jute sacks and polyethylene bags in Ago-Iwoye, southwestern Nigeria. Mycopathologia 146, 135–146 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007043115194

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007043115194

Search

Navigation