USE OF Aspergillus repens lN THE MOULDING PROCESS OF DRIED FISH STICK MADE FROM LITTLE TUNA (Euthynnus affinis)

Dried fish stick is a popular product in Japan and called as Arabushi. The product which has undergone moulding process known as Katsuobushr. So far, lndonesia, particularly North Sulawesi Province, exports dried fish stick to Japan.

Microbial Diversity in the Gut of Cashew Stem Girdler, Analeptes trifasciata Fabricius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), in Ibadan, Nigeria

The cashew stem girdler, Analeptes trifasciata, is a major insect pest of cashew in Nigeria causing economic damage in cashew plantations even at low density. In this study, newly emerged adults of A. trifasciata reared from field-infested cashew stems were collected from the rearing cages, sexed, and dissected to reveal the internal structures of the insects. The gut was excised and separated into the foregut, midgut, and hindgut. The dissected gut compartments were blotted dry by sandwiching in sterile Whatman No. 1 (150 mm) filter paper for a minute. The inoculated gut parts showed the presence of eight fungi flora, namely, Aspergillus repens, Trichoderma spp., Fusarium verticillioides, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, yeast, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp., and Rhizopus stolonifer. The frequencies of occurrence of bacteria in the gut compartments of A. trifasciata were Enterobacter spp.: 83.33%; Escherichia coli and Streptococcus spp.: 55.56% each; Staphylococcus spp.: 44.44%; Klebsiella pneumonia: 50% and Salmonella shigella: 11.11%, while each of Serratia marceascea, Pseudomonas spp., and Micrococcus lutea had 5.56% occurrence. The occurrence of mycoflora and microbiota species varied in the gut compartments of A. trifasciata, indicating the role of these microorganisms in metabolic and other bioprocesses of A. trifasciata during digestion and synthesis of complex food substances from the cashew stem substrate. This study would provide basic information for enzymatic studies of A. trifasciata with a view to developing an integrated pest management (IPM) protocol for managing the pest in cashew plantations.

Effect of moulding on the changes in chemical composition of tabacco leaves

The process of moulding caused by the fungi: <i>Aspergillus repens</i> (Cda.) De Bart, <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Link, <i>Aspergillus ochraceus</i> Wilhelm, <i>Penicillium expansum (Link) Thom, VPenicillium commune</i> Thom and <i>Penicillum spinulosum</i> Tom influenced the decrease in soluble carbohydrate content with the simulataneous increase in the percentage of specific protein. It had an effect on the deterioration of technological and taste values of raw tabacco.

Alfalfa resistance to post-harvest Aspergillus species: Combining ability analyses

Hay making is still the most widespread technique of forage preservation. Saprophytic fungi, such as Aspergillus repens, can reduce forage quality during the post-harvest period by causing hay molding. Methods to control molding have yielded variable results, but genetic resistance has yet to be exploited. The objective of this study was to determine the mode of inheritance of resistance to post-harvest fungal growth in alfalfa. Seven parental genotypes representing a range of resistance to fungal growth (A. repens) were crossed in a complete diallel including reciprocals for a total of 42 crosses. Parental genotypes along with their progeny were screened for resistance to A. repens. The relative importance of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects in controlling resistance to post-harvest A. repens was compared. The results revealed a preponderance of GCA effects. The parent that supported the least amount of fungal growth produced progeny with the least amount of fungal coverage. The reverse was true for the more susceptible parents. The results indicate that breeding procedures that maximize additive gene effects, such as recurrent selection, could be effective in improving resistance to post-harvest fungal growth in alfalfa. Key words: Alfalfa, breeding, combining ability, resistance, Aspergillis repens, post-harvest fungi