ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH RICE AND MAIZE SPOILAGE IN MUBI NORTH, ADAMAWA STATE

Cereal crops, such as rice and maize, are vulnerable to fungal spoilage even at low moisture content at various stages of processing and storage along the food chain from cultivation, harvesting, handling, marketing, and storage. Fungi are responsible for about 30-70 % quality deterioration in grains obtained directly from farms to open markets, especially when the grains are exposed to dust, poor handling, and unhygienic practices. This study assesses the quality of grains stored in Mubi North Local Government Area Adamawa State, where the samples were purchased and packaged in a polythene bags. The samples were analysed for morphological and microscopic identification of the fungi isolates. The raw data were analysed for the mean frequency distribution table. The results obtained from the market showed that 8 (36.3%) aspergillus flavus were present in both the maize and rice samples, 1 (4.5%) aspergillus niger, 7 (31.8%) aspergillus fumigatus, 1 (4.5%) rhizopus stolenifer, and 5 (22.7%) penicillium natatum, without the growth of aspergillus oryzae. A total of 9 fungi were isolated and identified in the maize samples, and 13 were identified in the rice samples, with a total of 22 (100 %). The results of the samples obtained from the farm showed that 2 fungi were isolated in maize and 10 which are rhizopus stolenifer. In rice, Aspergillus niger, aspergillus flavus, and aspergillus oryzae were isolated and identified. The total incidence of fungal isolates identified in the market and farm shows all the fungi and their distribution, respectively. In conclusion, the mmarket grains sample showed a higher frequency of fungal isolates (22) than the farm samples (12). This suggests that grains may become more contaminated during storage, transportation, and marketing or may be attributed to prolonged storage, handling, poor ventilation, and exposure to environmental contaminants