Mycodeterioration of Lipids Contents in Sesame Seeds during Storage in Koshi Region of Bihar State

Sesamum indicum L. (Til) is an important source of oil and protein. The quality and quantity of oil and protein is adversely affected by biological agents, which consequently influence the product manufactured by sesamum seed or its derivatives. The health of sesamum plant is affected by fungi by causing infection of root, foliage and seeds. Sesame is grown in marginal and submarginal lands. The products and byproducts of sesamum have tremendous value. The sesame seeds yield oil content of 46-52%. Fungi associated with diseased seeds of sesamum indicum L. from markets of kosi region were isolated to the study the deteriorative changes in lipid content. In terms of number abundance Aspergillus flavus had the highest percentage occurrence in the market. Visually healthy seeds of Sesamum indicum were inoculated with spores of each of the ten fungi isolated from diseased seeds and incubated at 26 +- 20c for 7days. The healthy and fungal infected seeds were analysed for their lipid content. Significant decreases in lipid content were observed in the seeds inoculated with all the fungi. A. niger was responsible for the maximum depletion of the lipid content of the seeds. The result clearly indicate that these fungal species are capable of deterioration in the lipid content in storage.