PREVALENCE OF FUNGI IN CENTRAL MARKET OF LAPAI, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of molds in soil samples collected from four different locations (yam, sugar cane, vegetables and plastic marketing areas) in Lapai central market. The soil samples collected were serially diluted, inoculated on PDA and incubated at 28oC + 2oC for 72 hours. Fungi associated with the samples were isolated and identified. In all the sampled areas, a total of twelve(12) fungi species from seven (7)genera viz Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Afumigatus, A. clavatus, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarium, Trichoderma herzianum, Fusarium oxysporium, Fusarium solani, Penicillium italicum, Penicillium chrysogenum and Rhizopus stolonifer were isolated. From sugar cane marketing area, A. flavus has the highest significant percentage frequency of occurrence (25.8%) at P<0.05while Alternaria alternata, C. herbarium, T. herzianum and P. chrysogenum were not isolated. R. stolonifer has the highest significant percentage frequency of occurrence at P<0.05 in yam, plastic and control areas with 18.00%, 60.00% and 15.73% respectively. The results revealed that the most prevalent fungi in Lapai central market was R. stolonifer with the highest mean percentage of occurrences of 26.5% followed by A. flavus (15.45%), and C. herbarium was the least(0.25%). All others fungal species were moderately present. This study revealed high abundance of fungal species in the main market in Lapai especially where farm produce are offered for sale. Therefore, total cleaning of farm produce brought directly from the farms to the market and possibly, periodic fumigation of the Market area to bring down the level of fungal build up are suggested.