FUNGAL DETERIORATION OF LEMON (CITRUS LIMON BURN F.) AND VITAMIN C CONTENT OF INFECTED FRUITS FROM KEFFI, NASARAWA STATE

This study was carried out in Keffi Metropolis to evaluate fungi associated with the deterioration of lemon (Citrus limonBurn F.) and the vitamin C content of the infected fruits. The lemon fruit samples were obtained from four selected marketing centres in Keffi metropolis. These includes Keffii main market, AngwanLambu, AngwanKaje and Angwan Fulani respectively. Out of 48 samples of lemon fruits examined, 34 had fungal species while 14 had no fungal species. The fungal analysis showed that Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stoloniferand Penicillium digitatumwere associated with the spoilt lemon fruits (C. limon) with frequencies of occurrence of 61.76%, 17.65% and 20.59% respectively. Some fresh lemon fruits stored at a temperature of 25^oC and 30^oC showed no sign of decay. The incidence of fungal species in lemon fruits from the different sampling markets include Keffi main market (26.47%), AngwanLambu (20.59%), AngwanKaje (29.41%) and Angwan Fulani (23.53%)respectively. There is no significant difference (P>0.05) between species of fungi isolated from different sources (markets) in Keffi. Pathogenicity test showed that Penicillium digitatumwas not a mere contaminant of lemon fruits but a primarily causative organism (80%) followed by Rhizopus stolonifer(60%) and Aspergillus niger(60%). Vitamins C content of both the infected and uninfected lemon fruits showed that infected fruits gave 31.37mg/100ml of vitamin C while the uninfected fruits gave 32.47mg/100ml vitamin C. Consumption of deteriorated lemon fruits should be discouraged.