Journal of Applied Sciences1812-56541812-5662Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jas.2008.168.172Trichosanthes curcumerina Linn)and Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentus Mill)in Rivers State, Nigeria]]>ChukuE.C. OgbonnaD.N. OnuegbuB.A. AdelekeM.T.V. 1200881Comparative studies on the fungi and biochemical characteristics of Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentus Mill) and the Snake gourd (Trichosanthes curcumerina Linn) products were investigated in Rivers State using various analytical procedures. Results of the proximate analysis of fresh snake gourd and tomatoes show that the essential minerals such as protein, ash, fibre, lipid, phosphorus and niacin contents were higher in snake gourd but low in carbohydrate, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C when compared to the mineral fractions of tomatoes which has high values of calcium, iron, vitamins A and C. The mycoflora predominantly associated with the fruit rot of tomato were Fusarium oxysporium, Fusarium moniliforme, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger,while other fungi isolates from Snake gourd include Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus tamari, Penicillium ita/icum and Neurospora crassa. Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger were common spoilage fungi to both the Tomato and Snake gourd. All the fungal isolates were found to be pathogenic. The duration for storage of the fruits at room temperature (28±1°C) showed that Tomato could store for 5 days while Snake gourd stored for as much as 7 days. Sensory evaluation shows that Snake gourd is preferred to Tomatoes because of its culinary and medicinal importance.]]>Alao, S.E.L.,20002000pp: 110AOAC,199015th Edn.,Burkill, H.M.,1985Vol. 1,pp: 604pp: 604Cheesebrough, M.J.,1991Vol. 11,pp: 167-214pp: 167-214Chuku, E.C., B.A. Onuegbu and J.A. Osakwe,2004Irvingia gabonensis var. gabonensis.]]>427274Hson-Mou, C. and B. Paul-Ru-Hay,1986Vol. 1,Ihekoronye, A.I. and P.O. Ngoddy,1985Pages: 386Pages: 386Kassim, M.Y.,19863343344Markson, A.A., B.E. Madunagu, E.J. Umana and S.E. Duo,20052005pp: 3636Nwanwusi, J.U. and J.A. Osakwe,2003Fusarium oxysporium F. sp. ricini infection on roots of castor bean plant in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.]]>2003pp: 270276Nwanwusi, J.U., J.C. Ogbonnaya and J.A. Osakwe,2006Fusarium oxysporium on seedlings of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State.]]>2006pp: 160163Olds, R.J.,19835th Edn.,Onuegbu, B.A.,2002pp: 204-208pp: 204-208Onyia, V.N., C.O. Mbuka, G.O. Ihejirika, O.P. Obilor, C.I. Duruigbo and E.C. Onweremadu,2005Fusarium wilt of tomatoes under different colors of plastic mulch.]]>2005pp: 2325Purseglove, W.,19772137533Sani, M.Y. and S.E.L. Alao,2007Llycopersicon esculentus) and pepper (Capsicum annum) samples from some selected irrigated areas in Kano, State Nigeria.]]>35157Shen, R.,2001pp: 13-15pp: 13-15Zhang, Q.,1990Trichosanthin and its Clinical Application.]]>pp: 11pp: 11