Pathogenicity of fungal pathogens associated with tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) fruit rots.

Fungal species associated with rotted tomato fruits were isolated and the isolates were identified. In pathogenicity tests, complements of three surface sterilized fruits were inoculated each with conidial suspension (x10 spores/ml)of the isolated fungal species in a Completely Randomized Designfruit (CRD) with three replications. Inoculated fruits were incubated at 28+ 2c for 7 days and rot symptoms as well as fruit weight reductions were obtained. Fungal species associated with tomato fruits were Fusarium Verticilliodes, Macrophomina phaseolina,Saccharomyces cerevisae,Geotrichum candidium and Aspergillus niger. Each fungal species was pathogenic to tomato fruits,induced significant (p=0.05)weight loss and produced characteristic symptoms on infected fruits. M. phaseolina was lost pathogenkic as it induced 28.0% fruit decay. Decay by other pathogens ranged between 11.3 15.7%.