FUNGI AND SOME MYCOTOXINS FOUND IN GROUNDNUTS (Arachis hypogea) FROM NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Groundnut samples were collected during rainy season May-October from different Local Government areas of Niger State and screened for fungal, Aflatoxins B\, B2, G\, G2 and Ochratoxin A. Ten (10) fungi genera were isolated from eighty two (82) groundnut samples collected. The major fungal contaminants of groundnut in Niger state were A.niger, A. ochraeus, A.flavus, Rhizopus and Mucor. AFB\, AFB2, AFG\ and AFG2 were found in 72, 61, 55 and 15 samples respectively out of 82 samples analyzed while OT A was detected in 73 out of 82 samples examined. The results showed samples from dry zone with highest AFB\ range (5.6-188~g/kg) while wet zone has the lowest (4.0-13.6~glkg). Wet zone had the highest concentration ofOTA, AFB2 and AFG\ ranges (4 0-45.6~glk ), (0.4-38.4~g kg) and (20.O-516.0~g/kg) while dry zone has least OT A (1.2-30 .4/lg/kg) and wettest zone has least AFG\ (8.0- 340 0~glkg) . AFB\ range was high in roasted samples (27 0-188~g/kg) while AFB2 and AFG) was more in field samples (0.4-38.4/lg/kg) and (8.0-S16.0/lg/kg). OTA was found to be highest in field samples (1.6-4S.6~glkg) and least in roasted (S.2- 32.8~g/kg). While a significant difference (p<O.OS) existed in AFB\ between samples from dry zone (5.6-188.0~glkg) and wet zone (4.0-13 .611g/kg), there was no significant difference in concentration of AFB \, AFB2, AFG\ and OTA present in between the other zones and also there is no significant difference (p>O.OS) in roasted, stored and farm samples. The detection of AFB\ , AFB2, AFG\ and OTA in many samples necessitates regular surveillance and some caution in the rampant consumption of groundnut.