Molecular Identification of Fungal Pathogens Associated with Post-harvest Yam Tubers Rot in Mbam et Kim Division (Cameroon) with Emphasis on Penicillium monomenatosum (Frisvad, Filt. & Wicklow) as a First Report

Nowadays, increasingly complains mention tremendous decay of stored yam tubers in the Mbam et Kim Division, the main producing zone of Cameroon. Knowledge of the specific fungi responsible for yam spoilage is paramount for proper preservation by implementing plausible control measures. This study was therefore undertaken to identify the causative fungal agents associated with yam tubers rot in the survey zone. The isolation of suspicious pathogens was performed as per the Koch’s postulates encompassing artificial inoculation, symptoms recording, re-isolation and comparisons-based re-identification. The identity of isolates was later on ascertained by the sequencing of the 5.8S ribosomal DNA gene (ITS1 and ITS2). Overall, seven fungal species: Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium monomenatosum, Rhizopus oryzea, Talaromyces flavovirens and Bionectria cf. ochroleuca were recovered. P. monomenatosum is reported here for the first time as causative agent of yam rot. The obtained results unveil the identity of the devastating fungus threatening yam availability to consumers throughout the year in Cameroon and represent an initial and crucial step toward planning efficient and reliable control measure to counter the yam rot epidemic.