Isolation and Identification of Fungi Associated with the Spoilage of Cocoyam Corms

Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) is an important tropical root crop grown purposely for its starchy corms. This study was carried out to isolate and identify fungi associated with the spoilage of cocoyam These organisms were isolated from spoilt corms by direct inoculation rotten tissues on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. The fungal isolates identified using cultural morphological features such as colony appearance also through microscopic characteristics. include Rhizopus stolonifera, arrhizus, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger. Out 70 samples that analyzed, 45 (64%) had 36 (51%) 52 (74%) arrhizus while 61 (87%) A pathogenicity test healthy microorganisms. result showed responsible deterioration may have infected these contaminated working tools during harvest or improper storage farmers. Corms are always molds if not properly handled stored. Hence, proper care should be taken harvesting, handling, storing avoid being pathogenic since they can detrimental human health. It cause huge economic losses