PRELIMINARY STUDY ON POTENTIAL EDIBLE COATINGS DERIVED FROM CARBOXYL METHYLCELLULOSE AND FUNGI CULTURED METABOLITES ON THE SHELF-LIFE EXTENSION OF SWEET-ORANGE (CITRUS SINENSIS)

This study focused on assessing the potential of formulated edible coatings derived from a metabolite of Trichoderma viride and Penicillium chrysogenum, combined with carboxyl methylcellulose (CMC) on the postharvest storage quality of orange fruits. The cultured metabolite of fungal bioagents combined with CMC, as well as glycerol (plasticizer), inadequate solution ratio based on wettability, was evaluated for microbiological quality and shelf-life extension of sweet orange. Thereafter, ascorbic acid, total soluble solids, pH, percentage weight loss, among other parameters were assessed for 7 weeks. The results of the study revealed that the pH of CMC + Trichoderma viride and CMC + P. chrysogenum coatings had 3.8 ± 0.02 and 3.17 ± 0.06 respectively, while it was reported 2.90 ± 0.04 for uncoated treatment. Also, the ascorbic acid and total soluble solids of the edible coated oranges were higher than the control. In addition, the percentage of weight loss was higher in the uncoated control compared to the potential edible coated oranges. Further, the microbial load count of the potential edible-coated oranges was less compared to the un-coated oranges. In conclusion, this formulated potential edible coating could be further improved upon and optimized for use in prolonging the storage of sweet oranges

AMINO ACID COMPOSITION AND ANTI-TYROSINASE ACTIVITY OF METABOLITES FROM EDIBLE Pleurotus SPECIES FOR THEIR NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

Mushrooms are being extensively researched due to their nutritional value and medicinal importance. The genus Pleurotus is the second most cultivated mushroom and is known for its high nutritional value, therapeutic properties, taste, flavor, as well as their application in biotechnology and environmental study. Also, tyrosinase is prevalent in most living organisms. The enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of monophenols to ortho-quinones in a two-step reaction process. This study was aimed to assess the amino acid composition and anti-tyrosinase activity of metabolites obtained from edible Pleurotus species. Assessment of the nutritional content and inhibitory studies of mushroom tyrosinase produced from four Pleurotus strains was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The results of the study showed that seventeen different amino acids were identified in the crude and partially purified protein metabolites. Also, the crude extract metabolite had the highest quantity of amino acids than the partially purified. The highest and lowest amino acids value Glutamic acid (1343.26 µmol/mL) and valine (0.34 µmol/mL). The anti-tyrosinase inhibition studies of the four Pleurotus strains showed varying results from significantly inhibitory effects to slightly inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase. The highest inhibition was 14.86% (Pleu-W), while the lowest inhibition was 51.42% (Plof-30) respectively. The high point of this study is that the Pleurotus species contains a significant number of amino acids and also, they possess good anti-tyrosinase activity. Therefore, these are a good source of nutritional and therapeutic metabolites and these can be explored further for their nutritional and medicinal importance to man

Assessment of bio-efficacy of Glomus versiforme and Trichoderma harzianum in inhibiting powdery mildew disease and enhancing the growth of cowpea

The current study was conducted to assess the antagonistic bio-efficacy of using wild type and mutant isolates of Glomus versiforme (AMF) and Trichoderma harzianum (TH) in inhibiting powdery mildew disease and enhancing growth of cowpea in a screen house pot experiment. In all, both singly and co-inoculation, eleven treatments were applied as follows: AMFwild, AMF30, AMF60, AMF90, TH, AMFwild + TH, AMF30 + TH, AMF60 + TH, AMF90 + TH, Pathogen alone and control. Results of preliminary antagonistic assay reveal that, using the bio-agents Trichoderma harzianum and Glomus versiforme inhibited the cowpea pathogen Erysiphe flexuosa. Cowpea growth measurements and disease assessment were taken after 7 weeks. All treatments significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced seedling agronomic growth parameters when compared to the control. Treatment AMF60 + TH showed maximum increases in plant height, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight, number of leaves, root length and leaf area. AMF colonisation was found highest in single inoculations of AMF, although this decreased with the addition of T. harzianum. Maximum reduction in disease incidence and severity was recorded in treatment AMF60 + TH in comparison to the control plants. Also, seed treatment further established the biocontrol efficiency of the bioagents and a significant (p < 0.05) increase in seeding germination was recorded when compared with the control. These findings demonstrated that seed and soil treatments with co-inoculation of Glomus versiforme and T. harzianum enhanced the resistance of cowpea seedlings against powdery mildew disease caused by Erysiphe flexuosa and can also be used to enhance growth in cowpea seedlings. Keywords: Erysiphe flexuosa, Glomus versiforme, Co-inoculation, Cowpea, Trichoderma harzianum, Vigna unguiculat

Exploiting potential of trichoderma harzianum and glomus versiforme in mitigating cercospora leaf spot disease and improving cowpea growth

Background and Objective: Trichoderma species are of utmost importance in agro-biotechnological applications because, in their interactions with plant hosts, they out-compete most pathogenic microorganisms. This study aimed at exploiting the potential of Trichoderma harzianum together with Glomus versiforme and its mutants, in inhibiting cowpea leaf spot rot induced due to Cercospora canescens infestation and improving agronomic growth parameter in a screen house experiment. Materials and Methods: The experiment was designed using single and co-inoculation of the bioagents: in all, eleven treatments were applied, consisting of Glom_verwild, Glom_ver30, Glom_ver60, Glom_ver90, Trich_h, Glom_verwild+Trich_h, Glom_ver30+Trich_h, Glom_ver60+Trich_h, Glom_ver90+Trich_h, Pathogen alone and control. Cowpea growth yield parameters and disease severity were assessed after 7 weeks. Results: The deployed treatments improved agronomic growth parameters substantially (p<0.05) relative to control. Glom_ver 60+Trich_h treatment exerted the highest agronomic growth improvement yield. In addition, the best reduction in the incidence and severity of cowpea leaf spot disease was obtained using Glom_ver 60+Trich_h. A significantly higher germination rate in seeding, confirms both inhibitory and growth improvement potency of the bio inoculants treatment. Conclusion: This study's findings confirmed the beneficial impacts of the treatment of seed and soil with dual T. harzianum and G. versiforme, in improving the immunity of cowpea to Cercospora canescens leaf spot infection and improve cowpea growth