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ABSTRACT
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) a member of the family Fabaceae. In Nigeria, it has many local names such as, Epa, Ayayaa, Oka, Omizaguo, Isagwe and Isegue. The aim of this study was to determine the fungi associated with groundnut seeds sold in open markets in Benin City metropolis. In this study two different markets in different locations were selected which are oba and new Benin markets. The Groundnut samples at these markets were collected and packaged in sterile polyten bags and transported in clean and air tight bags to the laboratory for mycological analysis. The groundnuts samples were washed in sterile distilled water for 10mins by hand washing in a 200ml conical flask. The wash of the groundnut seed samples obtained from the markets mentioned above were used as inoculum and was plated in triplicate in petri dishes containing PDA amended with antibacterial agents (Streptomycin and penicillin). They were incubated at room temperature and the fungal growth on the plates observed after every 24 hours for 7 days. The macroscopic and microscopic identification revealed eight fungi genera which were Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Mucor, Trichoderma, Geotrichum, Saccharomyces, Penicillium, Clavispora and Neurospora. The highest heterotrophic fungal counts was obtained from groundnut seed sourced from Oba market (3.4×105 ±0.9 Cfu/g); whereas the lowest was obtained from groundnut seeds sourced from New Benin market (2.5×105 ± 2.5 Cfu/g). Sample A and D had the highest fungi percentage frequency (24.2%) while Sample E had the least percentage fungi frequency (15.2%). The percentage fungi diversity was recorded in Sample A (75%) followed by Sample D (62.5%), while B, C and E had the least percentage diversity (50%). The isolated microflora could poses health hazard to indigenous consumers through the toxins they may produced.
