Post-harvest decay of Carica papaya L. is the primary cause of deterioration in papaya quality and the low economic impact of this sector in Cameroon. Field surveys conducted by teams from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) in Cameroon have primarily associated these decays with fungal attacks. However, to date, no methodological analysis has been conducted on the identification of these fungal agents. To reduce post-harvest losses, rapid detection of diseases is crucial for the application of effective management strategies. This study sought to identify the fungal agents associated with post-harvest decay of papaya cv Sunrise solo in Cameroon and to determine their physiological and biochemical growth characteristics. Isolation and pathogenicity tests were performed according to Koch’s postulate. Molecular identification of isolates was achieved by amplification and sequencing of the ITS1 and ITS4 regions. Phylogenetic analysis was based on the substitution models corresponding to each fungal genus determined by jModeltest, according to the Akaike information criterion (AIC). Fungal explants of each identified species were subjected to variations in temperature, pH, water activity, and NaCl concentration. The ability to secrete hydrolytic enzymes was determined on specific media such as skimmed milk agar for protease, peptone agar for lipase, and carboxymethylcellulose for cellulase. These experiments allowed the identification of three fungi responsible for papaya fruit decay, namely Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium equiseti, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae. All three pathogens had maximum mycelial growth at a temperature of 25 ± 2 °C, pH 6.5, NaCl concentration of 100 µM, and water activity (aw) equal to 0.98. The three fungal agents demonstrated a strong potential for secreting cellulases, lipases, and proteases, which they use as lytic enzymes to degrade papaya tissues. The relative enzymatic activity varied depending on the fungal pathogen as well as the type of enzyme secreted. This study is the first report of F. equiseti as a causal agent of papaya fruit decay in Cameroon.

Papaya cultivation is considered to be one of the most important fruit-growing activities in Cameroon, and plays a vital role in improving the livelihoods of local producers. However, leaf diseases caused by devastating fungi are a real obstacle to the development of this crop. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal potential of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil against Alternaria alternata and Phomopsis carica-papayae, fungal agents associated with the deterioration of papaya leaves in the Moungo region of Cameroon. The essential oil of fresh C. citratus leaves was extracted by hydrodistillation. Analysis of the chemical composition by GC then GC/MS revealed Geranial (45.24%), Neral (35.57%) and Myrcene (7.21%) as the majority compounds. In vitro antifungal tests on mycelial growth by incorporation into agar gave MICs of 900 ppm and 700 ppm against A. alternata and P. carica-papayae respectively. The MIC of 700 ppm proved fungicidal on P. carica papayae, while for A. alternata the fungicidal effect was obtained at a concentration of 900 ppm. In situ, the essential oil proved significantly active in inhibiting necrosis caused by the conidial complex of the two pathogens on papaya leaves, with a percentage inhibition of 85.93% at a concentration of 6000 ppm. C. citratus EO could therefore be used as an alternative to chemical fungicides in the fight against papaya leaf disease pathogens.

Foodborne diseases remain a significant global public health concern, affecting millions annually and causing substantial economic losses. Traditional microbiological methods for pathogen detection, such as culture-based identification and polymerase chain reaction, are often time-consuming and lack sensitivity. The integration of bioinformatics and high-throughput sequencing technologies, including next-generation sequencing and metagenomics, has revolutionized foodborne pathogen detection by enabling rapid, accurate, and culture-independent identification. Machine learning and artificial intelligence further enhance food safety monitoring through predictive modeling and risk assessment, facilitating early outbreak detection and improved contamination control. Whole genome sequencing has emerged as a gold standard for public health surveillance, allowing for precise pathogen characterization and antimicrobial resistance tracking. Data-sharing networks, such as GenomeTrakr and PulseNet, have strengthened global collaboration, enhancing real-time pathogen monitoring. However, challenges persist in data integration, technical expertise, and infrastructure development, which hinder the widespread adoption of these technologies. Addressing these barriers requires standardized protocols, AI-driven predictive models, and interdisciplinary collaboration between public health, industry, and academia. As bioinformatics continues to evolve, its role in pathogen surveillance, outbreak prevention, and food safety management will become increasingly vital. Advancements in bioinformatics tools and AI-driven approaches will ensure a more efficient, data-driven, and globally coordinated response to foodborne disease threats

Green agricultural development requires safe, effective, and environmentally friendly plant disease control measures. This study evaluated the antagonistic properties of Trichoderma erinaceum It-58 and Trichoderma afroharzianum P-8 against Neoscytalidium sp., as well as their ability to promote growth and induce biochemical resistance in cucumber seedlings. The pathogen responsible for both cucumber fruit rot and seed damping off was isolated and identified morphologically. The antagonistic potential of the Trichoderma strains was assessed using dual culture, volatile, and non-volatile organic compound methods. For pot experiments, seeds coated with antagonists were pre-germinated and transplanted. Twenty-one days later, roots were infected with the pathogen. Fifteen days post-infection, seedlings were harvested to evaluate growth parameters (height, biomass, and diameter) and biochemical parameters (polyphenols, proteins, peroxidases, polyphenol oxidases). The pathogen was identified as Neoscytalidium sp.. In dual culture, T. erinaceum and T. afroharzanium inhibited the pathogen by 74.36% and 68.20%, respectively. Diffusible non-volatile substances showed even greater inhibition of mycelial growth at 71% (T. erinaceum) and 97% (T. afroharzanium). No inhibition was observed with volatile organic compounds. In pot experiments, both antagonists significantly stimulated plant growth parameters and reduced disease incidence (16.67% for T. afroharzianum, 33.33% for T. erinaceum). They induced a significant increase in polyphenol content while significantly decreasing peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities in treated and infected plants compared to controls. There was a significant positive correlation between disease incidence, polyphenol content, and peroxidase activity, and a negative correlation with polyphenol oxidase. Thus, T. erinaceum and T. afroharzanium can effectively promote cucumber growth and prevent seedling wilt caused by Neoscytalidium sp.. However, molecular identification of the pathogen and field trial are needed.

In order to provide an effective alternative for efficient management of dermatophytosis, we evaluate in vitro the antioxidant and antiradical potentials of the essential oil of the dry flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum and its antidermatophytic activity against Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton soudanense, For this purpose, the essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation through a Clevenger apparatus and the antioxidant and antiradical potentials were evaluated by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the trapping of the ABTS•+ radical methods, respectively. The evaluation of the antidermatophytic activity was made by the agar incorporation method. The results showed that the essential oil reduced ferric iron (Fe3+) to ferrous iron (Fe2+) in a more significant manner than BHT (reference antioxidant). Moreover, the antiradical power of the essential oil was twice greater than that of BHT. Furthermore, the essential oil inhibited the mycelial growth of the two dermatophytes, with 500 ppm and 1000 ppm of minimal inhibitory concentrations against Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton soudanense, respectively. This activity was greater than that of griseofulvin whose minimal inhibitory concentration was greater than 4000 ppm against both studied germs. These findings show that, withon the framework of safeguarding human lives and protecting the environment, the essential oil from the dry flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum appeared as reliable alternative for the treatment of dermatophytosis caused by Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton soudanense. Our results lay scientific foundation toward the promotion and development of Cameroonian biodiversity in treatments of dermatophytosis.