KELIE LAURE NANGMO TEMATEU1, JEAN PAUL KAMSEU MOGO2, GERTRUDE KEEGOUI3, GODFROY ROSTANT POKAM DJOKO4, BRIDGET KATTE5, SONGMI SEDRIC GERRYCO6, YAOUBA AOUDOU1
1Research Unit of phytopathology and agricultural zoology, Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
2Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Multiple Purpose Station Dschang, Cameroon
3Genetics, Biotechnology, Agriculture and Plant Technology Research Unit, Department of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon
4Research Unit of Applied Biology and Ecology, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
5Research Unit of Physiology and animal health, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Agronomy and agricultural science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
6Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
Corresponding author: godfroydjoko@gmail.com
Received: 21 May 2026, Reviewed: 23 Jul 2026, Revised: 30 Aug 2026, Accepted: 03 Sep 2026, Published: 14 Oct 2026.
https://doi.org/10.63342/cjbbs2026.34.014.en
ABSTRACT
Potato production is on the increase in tropical regions, but yields remain low, generally between 3 and 11 t/ha, due to poor seed quality and phytosanitary pressures. First-generation seeds are a promising solution for improving productivity, but they require pathogen-free organic growing substrates (soil, compost, and sand mixtures) to guarantee plant health. The aim of this study, carried out from January to June 2022 in Bayangam, Cameroon, was to assess the microbiological quality of greenhouse substrates and propose biological control strategies. Analyses carried out before and after sterilization revealed high initial contamination of the irrigation water, with 193 CFU/mL total coliforms, making it unfit for use. Bacterial loads, including Streptococcus spp. and Shigella spp., as well as fungal populations such as Fusarium spp., were significantly reduced after sterilization. Pathogenicity tests identified Fusarium sp. as the most virulent, causing lesions of 7.66 cm2 on potato leaves after 7 days. Furthermore, aqueous extracts of Tephrosia vogelii showed high antifungal activity, with inhibition rates reaching 93.71% against Fusarium subglutinans. These results demonstrate the importance of rigorous control of the microbiological quality of substrates and confirm that sterilization, combined with the use of botanical extracts, represents a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, thus contributing to healthy seed production and food security in Cameroon.
Keywords: Potatoes, Microbiological quality, Sterilization, Pathogenicity, West Cameroon.
RÉSUMÉ
La production de pomme de terre connaît un essor dans les régions tropicales ; néanmoins, les rendements demeurent faibles, s’établissant généralement entre 3 et 11 t/ha, en raison de la piètre qualité des semences et des pressions phytosanitaires. Les semences de première génération constituent une solution prometteuse pour accroître la productivité, mais elles exigent des substrats organiques de culture (mélanges de sol, compost et sable) exempts de germes pathogènes afin de garantir la santé des plants. L’objectif de cette étude, menée de janvier à juin 2022 à Bayangam (Cameroun), était d’évaluer la qualité microbiologique de substrats sous serre et de proposer des stratégies de lutte biologique. Les analyses réalisées avant et après stérilisation ont révélé une forte contamination initiale de l’eau d’irrigation, affichant 193 UFC/mL de coliformes totaux, la rendant ainsi impropre à la consommation. Les charges bactériennes, incluant Streptococcus spp. et Shigella spp., ainsi que les populations fongiques telles que Fusarium spp., ont été significativement réduites à la suite de la stérilisation. Les tests de pathogénicité ont permis d’identifier Fusarium sp. comme le germe le plus virulent, occasionnant des lésions de 7,66 cm² sur les feuilles de pomme de terre au terme de 7 jours. En outre, les extraits aqueux de Tephrosia vogelii ont manifesté une activité antifongique élevée, avec des taux d’inhibition atteignant 93,71 % à l’encontre de Fusarium subglutinans. Ces résultats démontrent l’importance d’un contrôle rigoureux de la qualité microbiologique des substrats et confirment que la stérilisation, conjuguée à l’emploi d’extraits botaniques, représente une alternative durable aux pesticides chimiques, contribuant ainsi à une production semencière saine et à la sécurité alimentaire au Cameroun.
Mots-clés : Pomme de terre, Qualité microbiologique, Stérilisation, Pathogénicité, Ouest-Cameroun.
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