MYCOBIOTA OF POST-HARVEST SAMPLES OF KOLANUTS (Cola acuminate) AND TIGER NUTS (Cyperusesculentus) IN NIGERIA

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the mycobiota of fresh marketed seeds of Cola acuminata (Kolanut) and Cyperusesculentus (Tigernut) in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The serial dilution plate method was used and a total of 6 fungi belonging to 2 fungal classes and 3 genera were isolated from the washings of the plant materials.Deuteromycetes were the most frequently isolated fungi, having 100% and 75% percentage occurrences on Tiger and Kola nut seeds respectively; followed by Zygomycetes which were only isolated from Kola nuts (15%). Members of other fungal classes were not observed in the study. Aspergillus species were the most occurring on the plant materials (66.67%), followed by Mucor and Penicillium both with 16.67% relative abundances respectively. Kolanut had a higher fungal load (four fungi) compared to Tiger nut (two fungi). Fresh marketed Tiger and Kolanuts popularly consumed in the study area are frequently contaminated with fungi that could on the long run impact negatively on seed quality and pose serious health risks on the final consumers of the products