Biochemical and Physicochemical Changes in Seeds and Fatty Oil of Salvadora oleoides and Salvadora persica by Soil Borne Fungi

Abstract Susceptibility of seeds to fungal invasion, proliferation and elaboration of mycotoxins is one of the major factors for the low quality and productivity. The present study was undertaken to investigate the impact of fungal infestation on biochemical content of seeds of two important oil-yielding species namely S. oleoides and S. persica as well as certain physicochemical characteristics of fatty oil. Seeds from ground lying fruits of the two species were collected and segregated into three groups based on level of infestation. Altogether eight dominant fungi were isolated and identified as Aspergillus candidus, A. flavus, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizopus nigricans and Sclerotium rolfsii based on specified characteristics. Results of the biochemical analysis showed significant decrease in fatty oil, crude protein and carbohydrate contents across the different infestation levels as compared to healthy seeds. The acid values of fatty oil from seeds of S. oleoides and S. persica constantly increased to a higher value all through at the level of infestation. Further increase in soponification value and decrease in iodine number of the fatty oils was also recorded all over the infestation levels. The results are in agreement with the previous studies on similar aspects with various other oilseeds.