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VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Integrative molecular and pathogenic characterization of Aspergillus flavus driving post-harvest fruit rot and quality loss in Papaya (Carica papaya L. cv. Pusa Nanha)
Authors
Rajesh Ranjan, Dr. Ravi Shankar Singh, H K Chourasia
Abstract
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) has very short shelf life, particularly in
the tropics, and suffers from post-harvest fruit rot. The objective of this
study was to isolate, identify and molecularly characterise the fungal pathogen
associated with post-harvest fruit rot of papaya cv. 'Pusa Nanha', in Eastern
Bihar, and assess the impact of infection on fruit quality. The pathogen was
isolated on potato dextrose agar and subsequently identified, using
morphological criteria, as an Aspergillus species. Molecular confirmation of
the pathogen was achieved by amplification of the internally transcribed spacer
region (ITS) of rDNA (~500 bp) of the fugus, followed by sequence analysis and
subsequent BLAST comparison which identified it as Aspergillus flavus.
Pathogenicity testing clearly demonstrated that injured fruit show a
significantly higher level of lesion development (26.2 mm at 10 days) than
non-injured fruit (17.8 mm) at the same period, and conidia produced on injured
fruit were significantly greater (68.4 × 10⁵ spores/mL in injured fruit) than
on non-injured fruit. The infection resulted in severe weight loss of the fruit
during the storage period; by 30 days, weight loss had reached 97.8% of the
initial weight. Throughout the storage period, infectious fruit underwent
significant deterioration in physiochemical parameters; ascorbic acid of 74.2
mg/100g in healthy fruit decreased to 20.2 mg/100g in infected fruit; total
soluble solids levels of 8.4 °Brix in healthy fruit dropped to 2.0 °Brix; and
titratable acidity of 0.64% level decreased to 0.19% in infected fruit. The
results indicated a rapid rate of metabolic degradation and high severity of
quality loss due to infection with A. flavus. The study has demonstrated that
A. flavus is a significant post-harvest pathogen of papaya cv. 'Pusa Nanha' in
Eastern Bihar, causing both quantitative and qualitative losses, highlighting
the need for improved post-harvest management practices.
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Pages:45-52
How to cite this article:
Rajesh Ranjan, Dr. Ravi Shankar Singh, H K Chourasia "Integrative molecular and pathogenic characterization of <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> driving post-harvest fruit rot and quality loss in Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L. cv. Pusa Nanha)". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 45-52
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