Incidence of Fungal flora and Aflatoxin content of millet and maize cereal grains sold in Guinea savanna zones of Kebbi State

Abstract

Cereal grains get contaminated with fungi and aflatoxin due to poor agricultural, displayed in market and storage practices. A total of three local governments in Guinea savanna zone of Kebbi State were selected for samples collection namely; Zuru, Yauri and Danko/Wasgu. Five heads of millet and five heads of maize were collected in each site, marked total of Thirty (30) head of both millet and maize in all. Fungi were isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) using Agar plate method. Eight (8) fugal species were isolated and identified as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigates, Fusarium spp., Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer, Mucor hiemalis, Eurotium harvarium and Penicillium spp. The highest incidence of fungi were obtained in Aspergillus flavus with (30.9%) and lowest were obtained in Eurotium harvarium (4.4%). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) were used for the determination of Aflatoxin. From the results obtained Zuru had the highest level of aflatoxin 58.00±3.65a μg/kg in millet while Danko/Wsagu with less 12.72±2.99bμg/kg in maize. Implication of this findings showed that both millet and maize had aflatoxin levels above maximum acceptable limit of 10μg/kg set EU and NAFDAC. Therefore, adequate and rapid drying of grains to water content level may be employed as this could reduce the growth of aflatoxingenic fungi to the minimum possible level.