Isolation of phytopathogenic fungi associated with the post-harvest deterioration of watermelon fruits

The global acquiescence of fruits and vegetables could be linked to their medicinal and nutritional benefits. Despite the breakthrough reported in application of agrochemicals for improving fruit production, reports of chemo-resistance pathogens and health implications have stalled its applications. This led to isolation, identification and the use of plant materials to inhibit pathogenic growth responsible for post-harvest deterioration of watermelon. According to Kosh postulate, Fusarium oxysporum, Streptomyces spp and Aspergillus flavus were isolated from infested watermelon fruits. The ethanolic leaf extracts (18.20 +/- 0.707 mm) displayed significant resistance against the microbes when compared to ethyl acetate extracts (17.20 +/- 0.707 mm) and Nystatin (17.00 +/- 0.707 mm). The findings revealed that A. indica and C odorata plant extracts could inhibit post-harvest pathogenic fungi in watermelon. Nevertheless, bioactive constituents should be appraised via bioassay guided isolation so as to obtain compounds with significant resistance to post-harvest rotting and novel structural moieties. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of African Institute of Mathematical Sciences/Next Einstein Initiative.