MYCOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF STORED GUINEA CORN SOLD WITHIN LAFIA MARKETS

ABSTRACT Guinea corn is a gluten free cereal crop grown and consumed in the Nigeria, however it is commonly infested by fungi, due to inadequate post-harvest storage conditions. The aim of this study was to mycologically assess stored guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor) sold within Lafia markets, Nasarawa State, Nigeria using appropriate standard microbiological methods. Five distinct fungal species were isolated from the guinea corn and identified both macroscopically and microscopically. The species of fungi isolated include Apsergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Alternaria spp and Mucor spp. The fungi contaminant isolated in the guinea corn grains had different level of contamination from the various markets with Kasuwa sohon having the highest count while Kasuwa tomato had the least count (1.0 ×104). Among all the isolate identified, Alternaria spp had the highest occurrence and Apsergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus had the least occurrence with 41.18 % and 5.88 % respectively. The research showed that guinea corn is widely infested with fungi, this might have resulted from inadequate pre and postharvest management and storage. The presence of these fungi could potent possible spoilage and production of mycotoxins in this grain. There is need for public awareness on the level of fungal contamination and its implication, farmers’ education on proper grains storage practices and effective regulatory actions by food standard organization bodies in Nigeria.