Status of Ascorbic Acid Content in Indian Gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica) After Post-harvest Pathogenesis by Two Fungal Species

摘要

Among the various mycopathogens causing fruit rot of Indian gooseberry, Penicillium funiculosum and Aspergillus niger were consistently recorded as the major rot producers during post-harvest period. P. funiculosum was more prevalent. In view of theseobservations, an experiment was conducted to assess the effect of these two pathogens on the ascorbic acid or vitamin C content of freshly harvested Indian gooseberry - a fruit valued for being very rich in this vitamin. Investigations showed that bothpathogens were able to cause a decline in ascorbic acid content of fruit tissue during pathogenesis. Eight days after inoculation with pathogen, P. funiculosum rot caused 55.7% loss, whereas A. niger rot caused 20.1% loss of ascorbic acid. It was also observed that completely rotted fruits of Indian gooseberry were not entirely robed of their ascorbic acid content.