The effect of washing with water and detergent on increasing the shelf life of pepper (Capsicum annum) on sale at Rimi and Tarauni markets of Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sample of pepper was collected from two selected vegetable markets and used to determine the most effective method of increasing shelf life of pepper. In the research two treatment methods used by marketers of vegetables washing with water and detergent were compared. The results showed that five fungal colonies were isolated from pepper samples obtained from the study aeas. The five fungal colonies isolated from the two markets have the following frequency of occurrence A. niger 17 ( 28.3 %) A. fumigatus 12 (23.3%), R. stolonifer 12 (20.0%), A. flavus 09(15.05%) and Mucor spp 08 (13.3%). Out of the total 60 fungal colonies isolated in the two markets, more colonies were counted from water wash pepper 37 ( 61.0%), while lower colony counts were recorded from detergent washed pepper in the two locations 23 ( 38.3%). It is clear therefore that, this investigation has established fewer fungal colonies counted from detergent washed samples in the two markets is that washing of pepper with detergent is more effective in increasing the shelf life of pepper by removing the surface contaminant micro-organisms.