Molecular Identification of Dominant Microorganisms Associated With the Spoilage of Strawberries and Oranges Using Ribosomal RNA Gene Sequencing | ||||
Benha Journal of Applied Sciences | ||||
Volume 10, Issue 6, June 2025, Page 83-91 PDF (816.43 K) | ||||
Document Type: Original Research Papers | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/bjas.2025.366800.1615 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
Samar Gomaa Elbadawy ![]() | ||||
1Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, P.O. Box 68, Hadayek Shobra, Cairo, Egypt | ||||
2Food Technology Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Moshtohor, P.O. Box 13736, Benha University, Qalyubia, Egypt | ||||
Abstract | ||||
This study aimed at the molecular identification of dominant microorganisms associated with the spoilage of strawberries and oranges using ribosomal RNA genes (16S rRNA and 18S rRNA) and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Samples of strawberries exhibiting grey mold and oranges exhibiting green mold were collected from Al-Obour market. Microbial total counts were determined, and three bacterial isolates (coded Sab-01, Sab-02, and Sab-03) and two fungal isolates (Sa02 (F1) and Sa04 (F2)) were selected from the spoiled fruits. The isolates were purified and morphologically identified as Gram-positive bacilli (Sab-01), Gram-negative short rods (Sab-02 and Sab-03), Botrytis sp. (Sa02 (F1)), and Penicillium sp. (Sa04 (F2)). Molecular identification using the 16S rRNA gene sequence identified the bacterial isolates as Bacillus subtilis (Sab-01-RSDS), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Sab-02-RSDS), and Pseudomonas putida (Sab-03-RSDS), while the 18S rRNA and ITS region identified the fungal isolates as Penicillium digitatum (Sa04-RODS) and Botrytis cinerea (Sa02-RSDS). These strains were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers LC784320.1, LC784321.1, LC784322.1, LC784323.1, and LC784324.1, respectively. Sequence alignments of the 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA genes, and ITS region showed identities close to 100% with the most similar strains in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the genetic relationships between the isolates and their corresponding species, supporting the use of ribosomal RNA genes and the ITS region for accurate microbial identification. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
Strawberries; Oranges; 16S rRNA; 18S rRNA; ITS region | ||||
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