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International Journal on Environmental Sciences
International Journal on Environmental Sciences 13 (2) Pp. 107-113, July-December 2022
ISSN No.: 0976-4534
https://doi.org/10.53390/ijes.v13i2.7
DIVERSITY OF FUNGI FROM DIFFERENT TYPES
OF VEGETABLES IN THE MUMBAI METROPOLITAN REGION
Rafi Ahmed* and Afiya Shaikh
Department of Botany
Maharashtra College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Mumbai (M.S.), India.
Research Article
Received: 20.09.2022 Accepted: 29.09.2022 Published: 12.10.2022
ABSTRACT
The present study was performed at exceptional markets in Mumbai for isolation, characterization and identity of fungi
inflicting the degradation and deterioration of vegetable like Potato (Solanum tuberosum), Onion (Allium cepa), Eggplant
(Solanum melanogenic), Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum),
Pea (Pisum sativum), Lemon (Citrus limon), Capsicum (Capsicum annum), Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), Cauliflower
(Brassica oleracea), Garlic (Allium sativum) and Carrot (Daucus carota) had been selected from 4 markets in Mumbai. Both
healthful and diseased samples were gathered. Eleven fungal species: Fusarium oxysporium, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium
sp, Alternaria sp, Aspergillus flavus, Colletotrichum sp, Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizopus stolonifer, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum,
Cladosporium sp. and Geotrichum candidum had been isolated at the duration of the research.
Keywords: Degradation, Vegetables, Deterioration, Fungi.
INTRODUCTION harmful to humans and animals that consume them. In recent
Vegetable products have dramatically increased in India by decades, various vegetables that form part of our daily diet
more than 40% during the past few decades. About 30% of all have been added to the list of products exposed to mycotoxin
vegetables are lost due to spoilage (Elufer, 2019). Vegetables contamination (Hero et al., 2017). The contamination of
are vital sources of nutrients for human beings. They are the vegetables by fungi could also be a result of poor handling of
fresh and edible portions of herbaceous plants. They are vegetable supply, Storage conditions, distribution, marketing
essential food, highly beneficial for maintaining health and practices and Transportation (Elufer, 2019). Fungi are
are valued mainly for their high carbohydrate, vitamin and increasingly implicated as the agent of spoilage of
mineral contents (Nareen et al., 2017). Associated with economically essential vegetables such as Alternaria,
disease prevention by improvement of good vision and Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus and
gastrointestinal health and decrease the risk of chronic and Trichoderma species. (Nareen et al., 2017). The dumped
degenerative diseases like diabetes, certain cancers, plant material and debris present in market places acts
cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and obesity reservoirs of the plant pathogen and for the growth of different
(João, 2012) are of the utmost importance. fungi, which carries biodegradation and deterioration due to
the presence of nutrients like carbon and nitrogen etc. (Umesh
Fungi play a substantial role in the spoilage of vegetables et al., 2012)
because of their pathogenicity to the harvested products.
However, during the various stages of pathogenesis, most of It has been an increase in the need to isolate the pathogenic
these fungi may generate different mycotoxins, which can be fungi associated with the spoilage of vegetables. Due to which
108 Diversity of fungi from different types..... July-December 2022
food becomes less palatable or even toxic, these changes may nutritive value, and diversified use (Varinder et al., 2017) are
be accompanied by taste, smell, appearance or texture rich in vitamins, minerals and lycopene, an excellent
alternations (Benita B.R. et. al., 2019). Therefore, this study antioxidant (Khatoon et al., 2016). Pea (Pisum sativum L.)
was undertaken to isolate fungi associated with spoilt comes under Leguminoceae family. The second largest
vegetables commonly sold in the Mumbai market. No producer of green peas is India which ranks in the 10th
systematic studies have been published on the incidence of position among vegetable crops (Junghare et al., 2014). It also
plant pathogenic fungi from vegetables in the Mumbai has an important ecological advantage for its contributions to
market. However, such information is needed to evaluate developing low-input farming systems by fixing atmospheric
diseases of vegetables due to pathogenic fungi, which can nitrogen (Mahmoud et al., 2018). Lemon (Citrus limon)
cause health effects. Hence, the present study was undertaken belongs to the family Rutaceae. High juice contents,
in four major vegetable markets in Mumbai city to investigate nutritional values and distinct taste have made the Citrus fruit
and isolate other pathogenic fungi from vegetables. unique among all other fruits with a great source of vitamin C
(Anam et al., 2014). In high quantities, they contain essential
The selected vegetables in this paper are, Potato (Solanum natural compounds containing ascorbic acid, citric acid,
tuberosum) belongs to the family Solanaceae, is the most minerals, essential oils, and flavonoids. Lemon shows
commonly cultivated tuber and The fourth most important antibacterial and anticancer activity due to alkaloid
tuber crop, after wheat, rice and maize (Reddy et al., 2018). constituents in different parts of the lemon (Yahaya et al.,
India is the fourth biggest producer in Asia as well as Onion 2016).
has been one of the necessary cash crops grown in India
during the last 5000 years and throughout the tropical and sub- The Capsicum genus, which also includes more than 30
tropical countries of the world (Vaijayanthi et al., 2019). species of flowering pepper plants, belongs to one of the
Brinjal (Solanum melongena L), it is a non-tuberous vegetable essential families known as Solanaceae. They are rich in fibre,
crop from the Solanaceae family. It is a low-calorie vegetable, capsicum is also rich in micronutrients and is hugely
a great source of protein, vitamins, fibre, minerals, and beneficial to body functions, and Bell peppers are rich in
antioxidants and contains anticancerous compounds (Damini
vitamin C, and they help in many functions like wound
et al., 2021). Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea variety botrytis)
healing, immune function and collagen synthesis. With
is a vegetable that belongs to the family of Cruciferous and is
vitamin C, capsicum it is also high in vitamin A. Vitamin A is
characterized by its broad leaves and fleshy stem. They have
necessary for the immune system and reproduction. Cabbage
compounds called isothiocyanates, which activate enzymes
(substances that speed up chemical reactions) that reduce the (Brassica oleracea) is an excellent and rich source of vitamin
activity of carcinogens (substances that promote the mutation C. In addition, it contains some B vitamins, and cabbage
of cells) (Supriya et al., 2017). Also, Cabbage (Brassica supplies potassium and calcium to the diet. (Astrit, 2014).
oleracea) belongs to the same Genus and is an excellent Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), family Chenopodiaceae, is
source of vitamin C. In addition, it contains some B vitamins, native to central and south western Asia. They are a source of
and cabbage supplies potassium and calcium to the diet vitamins A, B2, B6, B9, C, E and K. Spinach and other green
(Astrit, 2014). Carrot (Daucus Carota L. ) is an important crop leafy vegetables are huge sources of iron. Spinach also has
that refers to the Umbelliferae family. They are a great source high calcium content (Marraiki et al., 2012).
of nutritional fibre and whit mineral molybdenum which are
rarely found in many vegetables. It is a rich source of Garlic is a crop of great importance worldwide and is more
magnesium and manganese, which are needed for bone and valued for its culinary and medicinal properties. Secondary
protein, activating vitamin B, creating new cells, ergonomic metabolites have been shown to positively affect health and
muscles, nerves, and energy production (Moayad, 2018). The prevent many common human diseases, particularly through
cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most essential their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering
vegetables which belong to the cucurbit family and has great effects (Laura et al., 2021). Diversity of flora and fauna
economic importance. indicate a good ecosystem. Biodiversity is important for
ecological balance, sustainable development and human
Cucumbers are high in vitamins A, B, and C and contain survival (Ashok, 2017, 2018; Verma, 2019), however climate
almost (96%) water, (3%) carbohydrates, and (1%) protein, as change and anthropogenic activities badly influence the
well as minerals like manganese, copper, iron, calcium, and biodiversity (Verma, 2021; Prakash and Verma, 2022). In the
potassium (Ali et al., 2020). Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) present exploration, diversity of fungi from different types of
belongs to the family Solanaceae. Tomato is a widely grown vegetables in the Mumbai metropolitan region is taken into
and versatile vegetable worldwide for taste, colour, high consideration.
International Journal on Environmental Sciences 13 (2) Rafi Ahmed and Afiya Shaikh 109
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Survey and Sample Collection : Four markets in Mumbai
region Maharashtra state: Byculla, Kurla, Thane and Mumbra
markets were surveyed with diseased and healthy vegetables
of Potato (Solanum tuberosum), Onion (Allium cepa),
Eggplant (Solanum melanogenic), Cabbage (Brassica
oleracea), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), Tomato (Solanum
lycopersicum), Pea (Pisum sativum), Lemon (Citrus limon),
Fig: Map Mumbai showing different markets.
Sr. No. Market CO-ORDINATE
1 BYCULLA 18.9750° N, 72.8295° E
2 KURLA 19.0726° N, 72.8845° E
3 THANE 19.2183° N, 72.9781° E
4 MUMBRA 19.1761° N, 73.0229° E
Isolation and Identification of Fungi
The infected parts were put in 6% of sodium hypochlorite
solution for 1-2 minutes, rinsed twice in sterilized water to studying different characteristics of fungi according to their
remove the toxic material, and then the pieces were shape, size, colours, and mycelia textures of the fungi and
transferred by using forceps to a Petri dish containing making reference to standard literature (Ainsworth, et al.,
solidified potato dextrose agar containing streptomycin to 1972; Barnett, 1960; Ellis,1971; Ingold,1974; Gilman,1957;
prevent the growth of bacteria, was conducted in laminar Smith, 1969), The percentage frequency was calculated by
flow, then incubates for 5-7 days at 25ºC±2. After seven days the following formula:
of incubation, a small portion of mycelium from each fungal
colony is transferred aseptically into fresh plates containing Percentage
the medium. Purification of fungi is done by repeated sub- Total number of observations x 100
frequency =
culturing. Identification of fungi was carried out by doing Number of observations in which a species appeared
pure culture of the isolated fungi using a Microscope and
Table 1: Percentage Frequency of Fungal Isolate from Different locations.
Location Vegetable sample Isolated fungal species Percentage
Frequency (%)
Byculla Potato Fusarium oxysporium 70%
(Solanum tuberosum) Aspergillus niger 90%
Onion
(Allium cepa) Aspergillus niger 80%
Penicillium sp. 35%
Egg plant
(Solanum melanogenic) Alternaria sp. 50%
Aspergillus flavus 60%
Colletotrichum sp. 45%
Cabbage
(Brassica oleracea) Aspergillus niger 70%
Alternaria sp. 60%
Kurla Cucumber
(Cucumis sativus L.) Fusarium sp. 75%
Aspergillus fumigatus 55%
110 Diversity of fungi from different types..... July-December 2022
Tomato Fusarium oxysporium 65%
(Solanum lycopersicum) Alternaria alternata 50%
Rhizopus stolonifer 30%
Potato Aspergillus niger 65%
(Solanum tuberosum) Fusarium sp. 70%
Pea (Pisum sativum) Sclerotinia sclerotiorum 45%
Thane Lemon (Citrus limon) Alternaria spp. 50%
Aspergillus niger 80%
Capsicum Aspergillus niger 85%
(Capsicum annum) Fusarium solani
Alternaria sp. 70%
Spinach
(Spinacia oleracea L.) Fusarium sp. 55%
Cladosporium sp. 35%
Cauliflower
(Brassica oleracea) Aspergillus spp. 60%
Alternaria sp. 55%
Mumbra Cauliflower
(Brassica oleracea Aspergillus flavus 75%
var. botrytis) Alternaria alternata 60%
Tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum) Fusarium oxysporum 65%
Alternaria sp. 50%
Aspergillus flavus 60%
Garlic (Allium sativum) Aspergillus niger 80%
Fusarium spp. 65%
Alternaria sp. 55%
Carrot (Daucus carota) Geotrichum candidum 40%
Fusarium sp. 65%
Alternaria sp. 30%
Potato Egg plant
(Solanum tuberosum ) (Solanum melongena)
Fig: 1 Total number of Fungal species associated with Fig. 1: Collection of infected vegetables from markets of
Vegetable samples collected from four different markets Mumbai.
International Journal on Environmental Sciences 13 (2) Rafi Ahmed and Afiya Shaikh 111
Onion Cabbage Cucumber Tomato
(Allium cepa) (Brassica oleracea) (Cucumis sativus) (Solanum lycopersicum)
Pea Lemon Capsicum Spinach
(Pisum sativum) (Citrus limon) (Capsicum annum) (Spinacia oleracea L.)
Cauliflower Garlic Carrot
(Brassica oleracea) (Allium sativum) (Daucus carota)
Fusarium oxysporum Aspergillus niger Alternaria sp. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Alternaria sp. Aspergillus flavus Geotrichum candidum
Figure 2: Growth of different species fungal culture on PDA.
112 Diversity of fungi from different types..... July-December 2022
RESULT AND DISCUSSION Pure and Applied Sciences. Vol:28(6), pp.81-89.
Fungi were isolated from vegetables, namely Potato
8. João S. D. (2012)., Nutritional Quality and Effect on
(Solanum tuberosum), Onion (Allium cepa), Eggplant
Disease Prevention of Vegetables Food and Nutrition
(Solanum melanogenic), Cabbage (Brassica oleracea),
Sciences. (10) 369-402.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), Tomato (Solanum
lycopersicum), Pea (Pisum sativum), Lemon (Citrus limon), 9. Elufer A. (2019)., Isolation, Identification and
Capsicum (Capsicum annum), Spinach (Spinacia oleracea characterization of Fungi from stored vegetables.
L.), Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea), Garlic (Allium sativum) 10. Hero F., Ghafur, S. R. and Narin Q. (2017)., Isolation
and Carrot (Daucus carota) which were collected from Four and Identification of Fungi from Different Types of
different markets of Mumbai, i.e. Byculla, Kurla, Thane & Vegetables In Erbil Local Market. ZANCO Journal of
Mumbra markets. The occurrence and distribution of fungi Pure and Applied Sciences. Vol:28 (6) pp.81-89.
are present in Table 1 and Fig-1. All total fungi were isolated.
11. Umesh B k and Hemalata U. k. (2012)., Seasonal
Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum
variation of fungal propagules in a fruit market
and Alternaria sp. were predominant in all four markets of the
environment, Nagpur (India). Acta Bot. Croat. 71 (1),
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and grow on rotten vegetables, thrown away material and
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
(Daucus carota L.) and Radish (Raphanussativas L.)
Gratefully Acknowledge a deep gratitude to Dr. Sirajuddin
in Odisha.
Chougle principal Maharashtra College of Arts, Science &
Commerce Mumbai, for providing necessary facilities and 14. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Studies-on-
encouragement. Fungi-Associated-with-Storage-Rot-of-%28-L-
Akhtari-Ashirbad/531a513813ba36f 248d54d7
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