ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF CHITOSAN AGAINST Rhizopus stolonifer

Khawlah Abdallah  Salman; Hussein Ali  Hussein; Saddam Hussein  Abbas

doi:10.18006/2021.9(6).901.906

Authors

Khawlah Abdallah Salman Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kufa, Al-Najaf, Iraq 540011
Hussein Ali Hussein Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kufa, Al-Najaf, Iraq 540011
Saddam Hussein Abbas Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Qasim Green University, Iraq 51013

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18006/2021.9(6).901.906

Keywords:

Rhizopus stolonifer, Soft rot, Tomato, Chitosan, Antifungal activity

Abstract

These days instead of chemical pesticides, various natural alternatives have been used for the management of post-harvest diseases. This research was carried out to evaluate the antifungal potential of different chitosan concentrations viz., 5, 10, and 15 mg/µl against Rhizopus stolonifer by the agar dilution and well diffusion methods. The evaluation was carried out after seven days of incubation by measuring the inhibition of R. stolonifer mycelial growth. Results of the study revealed that the chitosan had a significant inhibitory effect on mycelial growth and maximum mycelial growth inhibition was reported at the 10 and 15 mg/µl concentrations and these two treatments are not significantly different. Based on these results, the best concentration (15 mg/µl) was further evaluated by the well diffusion technique. The average inhibition zones formed by the higher concentration was 25mm. Results of the study suggested that chitosan can be used for the management of post-harvesting diseases of tomatoes.