Mycoflora associated with tomato during the process of marketing

Major fungal species associated with spoil of tomato fruit are favored by high humidity which exists in wooden crates. The fungal species Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus stoloni, Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum with 100, 100, 36, 36 and 18% prevalence respectively. These fungi were isolated from tomato fruit samples of the market. Loss statistics are primarily concerned with the quantity loss multiplied with the market factor. The lowest severity of losses in terms of produce weight whereas the economic losses against produce weight are related with demand and supply factor. Weight losses with respect to distance gradient indicated lowest for Lahore 0.15% and the highest severity recorded was of Karachi i.e. 2.07%.