Assessment of Fungi Flora and Proximate Composition of Two Varieties of Groundnut in Rivers State

Abstract

Study on the fungi flora and proximate composition of two varieties of groundnut in Rivers State was carried out in the department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Rivers State. Cultural laboratory method was used to evaluate the fungi flora while the method of Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) was used to determine the proximate nutrient. Fungi screening revealed a total of seven fungal organisms (Rhizopus sp, Aspergillus sp, Gliocladium sp, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Fusarium sp, Scopulariopsis sp). However, all isolates were present in SAMNUT-21 while SAMNUT-23 recorded all with exceptions of Gliocladium sp and Scopulariopsis sp. Highest incidence (25.3% Fusarium sp) and (31.5% Aspergillus sp) were recorded for SAMNUT-21 and SAMNUT-23 respectively, 8.0% Gliocladium sp and 6.9% Paecilomyces recorded lowest incidence for SAMNUT-21 and SAMNUT-23 respectively. Proximate evaluation showed the availability of moisture, protein, fat, fibre and ash in both varieties of groundnut. Highest values of moisture (16.96±0.02) protein (32.72±0.00) and fat (33.67±0.01) were observed for SAMNUT-23 while SAMNUT-21 recorded highest values (33.60±0.02), (34.04±0.04) and (48.95±0.00) for moisture, protein and fat respectively. Generally, both varieties had appreciable proximate nutrient but are still susceptible to fungi attack.