Ahokpossi, A.B., Hotegni, N.V.F., Grabulos, J., Gardès, L., Barral, B., Adjé, C. A., Brat, P., Achigan-Dako, E.G., Chillet, M. Post-harvest damage and pathogens affecting sugarloaf pineapple (Ananas comosus var comosus) fruit in the Republic of Benin. Eur J Plant Pathol (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-026-03328-w
Sugarloaf pineapple (Ananas comosus) is the third most cultivated crop in Benin with strong market potential. Despite its specific attributes, the fruit remains highly perishable, but knowledge of post-harvest damage and pathogens affecting sugarloaf pineapple fruit in Benin is currently scarce, thus hindering strategies for extending the fruit’s shelf life. This study characterized and quantified the different types and categories of post-harvest damage affecting sugarloaf pineapple. It revealed the diversity of fungal pathogens related to the microbiological category of damage affecting fruit quality, as well as their prevalence in the surveyed areas. Our study identified eight types of damage clustered in three categories: physiological, microbiological and physical. Damage was associated with different types of symptoms that either evolved, or not, depending on fruit storage time. The relative abundance of strains revealed the presence of Thielaviopsis paradoxa, Fusarium oxysporum, Talaromyces funiculosus, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Penicillium rolfsii and Aspergillus aflatoxiformans responsible for sugarloaf black rot, fruitlet core rot and fruit rot disease. Fusarium sp. was observed at Sékou (30% incidence), Talaromyces sp. at Houègbo (32.5% incidence), Thielaviopsis sp. in Kpanroun (85% incidence). Microscopic observation, macroscopic characteristics and DNA sequence analysis of the isolated microorganisms confirmed the identities of the different genera involved in damage occurrence. Koch’s postulate, carried out on fruit free of microbiological damage, confirmed the cause-and-effect relationship. These results are decisive for providing the recognition tools and information needed to implement pre- and post-harvest strategies to improve the shelf life of sugarloaf pineapple fruit in Benin and West Africa.
