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Vol. 19 No. 1 (2025)
In Press / En prensa

Vegetable section

Isolation and molecular identification of contaminating fungi in vegetable seeds: Topito type sweet pepper (Capsicum sinense); winter squash (Cucurbita moschata) and eggplant (Solanum melongena) of economic importance in the Colombian Caribbean Coast

https://doi.org/10.17584/rcch.2025v19i1.18634

Published 2025-01-01

  • Manuel Alfonso Patiño-Moscoso
    • ,
  • Jesús Antonio Rivera-Avilez
    • ,
  • Karen Viviana Osorio-Guerrero
    • ,
  • Maria Fernanda Valencia Guerrero
    • ,
  • Luisa Fernanda Sarmiento-Moreno

Manuel Alfonso Patiño-Moscoso
Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research–AGROSAVIA, Mosquera (Colombia)

Jesús Antonio Rivera-Avilez
Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research–AGROSAVIA, Mosquera (Colombia)

Karen Viviana Osorio-Guerrero
Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research–AGROSAVIA, Mosquera (Colombia)

Maria Fernanda Valencia Guerrero
Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research–AGROSAVIA, Mosquera (Colombia)

Luisa Fernanda Sarmiento-Moreno
Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research–AGROSAVIA, Mosquera (Colombia)

Field seed production and seed health test of Topito type sweet pepper (Capsicum sinense Jacques); winter squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch) and eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Photos: C. Espitia-Romero

Abstract

Fungal contamination of Topito-type sweet pepper (Capsicum chinense), eggplant (Solanum melongena), and winter squash (Cucurbita moschata) seeds in the Colombian Caribbean represents a major threat to small-scale horticultural production. This study aimed to identify fungal contaminants through seeds incubation on potato dextrose agar, followed by morphological and molecular characterization via amplification of the ITS1 and ITS4 regions of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS). A total of 32 fungal isolates were obtained, classified into 25 morphotypes. Amplicon sizes ranged from 497 to 1,452 bp, with identity percentages between 89% and 100% compared to GenBank reference sequences. Winter squash PST1 exhibited contamination in 37% of seeds, predominantly by Fusarium equiseti (26%), while Topito-type sweet pepper DTP1 showed 37% contamination, with Penicillium citrinum (16%) as the most frequent species. Eggplant varieties Bv1 and Bv2 presented a higher diversity of fungal contaminants, including Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, and Schizophyllum commune. The identified fungi included saprophytic and potentially pathogenic species associated with plant necrosis and seed deterioration. Morphological analysis revealed distinct macroscopic and microscopic traits, such as Fusarium spp.'s canoe-shaped macroconidia and Penicillium citrinum's brush-like conidial structures. This study provides new insights into fungal contamination in vegetable seeds, identifying previously unreported species in these crops. The findings highlight the need to refine production protocols to enhance contaminant prevention. Additionally, the presence of fungi in stored seeds underscores the importance of proper humidity and temperature control during storage to prevent pathogen proliferation and ensure seed quality, contributing to more sustainable horticultural production in the region.

Keywords

Fungus, Pathogenic fungus, Seed, Vegetable, Seed quality, Plant health

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