Fungi associated with Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn (Yakwa) seed from Plateau State

Abstract

A study was carried out on fungi associated with Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds (Yakwa ) obtained from three L.G.A of Plateau state, namely Jos North, Kanke and Ryom L.G.A. The seeds were collected from different sites which included Markets, farmlands and the Roadside. Standard Blotter Method and Agar method were used for the isolation of Fungi associated with the seeds. The following fungi; Aspergillus niger Van Tieghem, Aspergillus flavus Link Ex fr, Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht, Penicillium chrysogenum Thom and Penicillium roqueforti Thom were isolated from both blotter and agar methods. It was observed that Fusarium oxysporum was the dominant fungus in all the study areas with a mean occurrence of (20.3%), followed by Aspergillus niger (15.3%), Penicillium chrysogenum (14.3%), Aspergillus flavus (12.3%) and Penicillium roqueforti, which showed the least occurrence with a percentage of (9.6%). The occurrences of fungi isolate according to the L.G.A were observed with Penicillium chrysogenum occurring most at the market place in Jos North L.G.A by 31 isolates. In Kanke L.G.A, Fusarium oxysporum occurred most at the farmland and at the market place by 25 isolates each. In Ryom L.G.A, Penicillium roqueforti occurred most at the market place by 26 isolates.

Keywords: Hibiscus sabdariffa and fungi