COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH STORED GROUNDNUT AND CORN

Comparative study of fungi associated with stored groundnut and corn were assessed. The study was carried out at the Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology/Industrial Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State. Groundnut and corn seeds were collected from three different vendors/sellers from Relief Market at Owerri, Imo State. 5kg each were purchased from the vendors and mixed thoroughly to avoid bias. The samples were packed in three different containers (namely: karki woolly sack, Plastic container and plastic sack). The incubation test was done using agar plate method (Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). To detect the presence of fungi in groundnut and corn samples fungal bioassay was done. The incidence or occurrence of fungi in groundnut for Aspergillus niger were 60.5%, 4.3% and 48.5% for Karki woolly sack, plastic container and plastic sack respectively. Aspergillus flavus recorded were 61.6%, 34.9% and 39.8% for Karki woolly sack, plastic container and plastic sack respectively; while Penicillium spp. were 7.4%, 27.1% and 24.3% Karki woolly sack, plastic container and plastic sack respectively. Incidence of fungi in corn, Aspergillus niger recorded were 77.2%, 47.5% and 64.3% for Karki woolly sack, plastic container and plastic sack respectively. Aspergillus flavus recorded 29.1%, 10.4% and 13.7% for Karki woolly sack, plastic container and plastic sack respectively. Penicillium spp. were 12.4%, 27.1% and 20.2% for Karki woolly sack, plastic container and plastic sack respectively; and Fusarium verticilloides recorded 47.6%, 22.4% and 26.5% for Karki woolly sack, plastic container and plastic sack respectively. There were significant differences in fungal contamination depending on the type of storage used. Cereal grains stored in karki woolly sack had the highest occurrence of the mycotoxigenic fungi when compared with the other storage types. For instance, Aspergillus niger incidence was high in both samples, up to 77.2% incidence was recorded in corn samples and 60.5% in groundnuts. High incidence of Aspergillus flavus was recorded in groundnuts samples (44.8%) in comparison to corn samples (17.2%). High incidence (47.6%) of Fusarium verticillioides was recorded in karki woolly sack when compared to other storage types and this was followed by plastic sacks. This research in Imo State and Nigeria in general require optimal preservation techniques, environmental and storage conditions to minimise contamination and economic loss of our critical agricultural commodities, primarily groundnut and corn grains.