Fungi detected on Sapindus trifoliatus (Ritha) fruit from Miani forest in Hyderabad, Sindh

The species is indigenous to India and China and widely cultivated in upper reaches of Indo-Gangetic plains, Shivaliks and sub- Himalayan tracts at altitudes 200m to 1500m as1 (Levavi Oculos, 2005). The species flourishes well in deep clayey loam soil and does best in areas experiencing nearly 150 to 200cm of annual rainfall. The fruit of Ritha appear in July-August and ripen by November-December. These are obovoid 2-3 lobed, 1.3 to 2cm diameter, hard and saponaceous. The seed is enclosed in a yellowish brown smooth and hard glabrous endocarp (Priscilla Abdulla, 1973). The fruit is collected during winter months for seed and or sold in the market as soapnut since. It contains saponin which is a good substitute for washing soap and as such used in preparation of quality shampoos, detergents etc. That perhaps is the reason that some Botanists have called the species as Sapindus detergens (Anon., 2004) The fruit is also of considerable importance for its medicinal value in Ayurvedic, Unani and Tibetan systems of medicine for treating a number of diseases like common cold, pimples, blemishes, chlorosis, epilepsy, constipation, nausea etc. Soapnut is traditionally used as a natural and effective treatment for skin complaints including eczema, chronic itching and psoriasis. Studies were therefore carried out to identify and quantify fungi associated with Ritha fruit. During a survey of Miani forest ritha fruits were found to be infected by fungi. A total number of 11 species belonging to 5 genera viz. Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus nigricans, Rhizopus stolonifer, Mucor luteus, Mucor mucedo, Penicillium funiculosum, A. wentii, A. flavus, A. oryzae, A. ochraceus and Mortierella zonata were isolated from 80 fruits of Ritha. The highest number of fungal species was obtained without surface disinfection as compared to the number of fungi treated with Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCI).