DETERMINATION OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH SPOILAGE OF MANGO (MANGIFERA INDICA) AND PINEAPPLE (ANANAS COMOSUS)

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) and mango (Mangifera indica) are economically important tropical fruits, but their high water content and nutrient‑rich composition make them prone to rapid bacterial spoilage, leading to food‑safety risks and sizable post‑harvest losses. While beneficial plant‑associated bacteria can promote growth and disease suppression, many of the microbes that colonize fruit tissues remain uncharacterized, and culture‑dependent methods—still a mainstay for isolating and testing individual strains—need to be complemented with molecular techniques to capture the full diversity of the fruit microbiome. This study focuses on the bacterial communities associated with spoilage of pineapple and mango in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria. The objectives were to: (1) identify and compare the bacterial taxa causing spoilage of the two fruits; (2) quantify the microbial load (colony‑forming units, CFU g⁻¹); (3) investigate spoilage patterns and the relationship between microbes and fruit deterioration; and (4) propose practical measures for prevention and management of bacterial decay. Fresh pineapple and mango samples were collected from four market locations in Damaturu, transported under cool conditions, and processed using MacConkey agar for selective isolation of coliforms. Bacterial counts were determined by streak‑plate method (10⁻²–10⁻³ dilutions), yielding CFU values of 1.40 × 10²–1.90 × 10² CFU g⁻¹ for pineapple and 1.52 × 10²–1.96 × 10² CFU g⁻¹ for mango. Gram staining revealed a mix of Gram‑positive and Gram‑negative organisms, confirming a diverse spoilage community. The results highlight a substantial bacterial load and the presence of both Gram‑positive and Gram‑negative taxa, underscoring the need for improved handling, storage, and hygiene to curb spoilage, reduce economic loss, and enhance food safety. The study also points to the value of combining culture‑dependent isolation with molecular tools (e.g., rep‑PCR) to better understand the ecology of spoilage microbes and to develop targeted biocontrol or preservation strategies for pineapple and mango in the region.