The present study examined the biopreservative efficacy of Trametes polyzona extracts on tomato fruits. Microorganisms associated with the spoilage of tomato fruits were isolated and identified using standard microbiological methods. Pathogenicity test of all the microbial isolates were also done using standard techniques. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical constituents of Trametes polyzona was also assessed. Moreover, antimicrobial effect and preservative potential of the extracts of Trametes polyzona on microbial isolates of tomato and the tomato fruits were assessed respectively. The proximate composition of the fresh and preserved tomato fruits were further evaluated and compared after storage. Result obtained from the microbial analysis revealed that Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Lactobacillus spp, Shigella spp, Pseudomonas spp, Micrococcus spp, Rhizopus stolonifera, Aspergillus niger, A.terreus, A. flavus, and Fusarium spp were found in the spoilt tomato fruits. Qualitative phytochemical screening showed saponin, tannin, phytate, flavonoid, terpenoid, total phenol, and oxalate available in Trametes polyzona extracts, while anthraquinone and phlobatannin were absent. There were variations in the quantity of the phytochemicals present in each extract with values ranging from (0.03 to 9.61mg/g). N-hexane extract of showed inhibitory effect on all the bacterial isolates with zones of inhibition ranging from (2.04 to 27.00mm).

Keywords : Bio-Preservative, Phytochemical Screening, Trametes polyzona Extracts, Tomato Fruits, Shelf Life.