Agricultural Journal

Year: 2012
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Page No. 53 - 57

Mycoflora of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var Capitata) and Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in Small Holding Peri-Urban Farms in the City of Accra, Ghana

Authors : Ebenezer Owusu and Seshi Dotse

Abstract: Using the Plate Count Technique, fungal contaminants of leaves of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var Capitata) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) obtained from farms at three localities, Dzorwulu, East Legon and Haatso in Accra, Ghana were investigated under laboratory conditions. The surfaces of the leaves were washed with 100 mL sterilized distilled water containing 0.1% peptone as diluent. Aliquots (1 mL) of samples were plated on DRBC, OGY, PDA and SGA media and incubated at 30°C. Seven fungal species belonging to five genera (Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Mucor, Penicillium and Rhizopus) were resident on the cabbage leaves obtained from Dzorwulu; six fungal species belonging to four genera (Aspergillus, Mucor, Penicillium and Rhizopus) were isolated from samples from the farm at East Legon while six fungal species belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Mucor, Penicillium and Rhizopus were encountered on cabbage samples obtained from the farm at Haatso. On the leaves of lettuce nine fungal species belonging to five genera (Aspergillus, Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Rhodoctila) were isolated from samples obtained from the farm at Dzorwulu while five species belonging to three genera (Aspergillus, Mucor and Rhodoctila) were associated with lettuce leaves obtained from the farm at East Legon. The mycoflora of the leaves of lettuce from the farm at Haatso showed 7 species belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Mucor and Penicillium. The study concluded that fungal species were resident on the leaves of cabbage and lettuce obtained from the three farms with toxigenic Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger being the most predominant species. Since, the two vegetables are mostly eaten raw, there is the need to educate consumers to wash them severally and thoroughly before consumption.

How to cite this article:

Ebenezer Owusu and Seshi Dotse, 2012. Mycoflora of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var Capitata) and Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in Small Holding Peri-Urban Farms in the City of Accra, Ghana. Agricultural Journal, 7: 53-57.

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