Abstract
Seeds are usually infected by microorganisms and pests during storage, causing deterioration and reduction in the nutritive and market value of these seeds. In this study, the proximate composition of Vigna unguiculata seeds inoculated with different fungal organisms was determined to ascertain the level of deterioration caused by fungi on the seeds. The fungi used in the study were Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger. There was a significant increase (p<0.05, 0.008) in the protein content of seeds inoculated with fungi. Fusarium oxysporum (29.45%) caused the highest increase in protein followed by Aspergillus niger (28.14%), Botryodiplodia theobromae (27.85%) and Rhizopus stolonifer (27.50%). The increase could be attributed to the proteineous content of the fungal mycelia. There was a significant increase (p<0.05, 0.005/0.014) in moisture and ash content of inoculated seeds respectively. Fusarium oxysporum caused the highest increase in ash (7.93) while Rhizopus stolonifer (5.4) caused the lowest increase. The increase in ash content is due to the presence of minerals like potassium and phosphorus in the mycelia of the fungi. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05, 0.019) in the carbohydrate, lipid, fibre and dry matter content of fungi-inoculated seeds when compared with the control. Fusarium oxysporum (36.6) caused the highest decrease while Rhizopus stolonifer (43.2) caused the lowest decrease in dry matter of inoculated seeds. Decrease in dry matter may be as a result of production of enzymes by these fungi.
Highlights
V. unguiculata is an important grain legume grown in the tropics where it serves as good source of protein for millions of people (Boukar et al, 2017)
Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger were isolated from diseased Vigna unguiculata seeds (Iyanyi and Ataga, 2014) using Standard Blotter Method recommended by ISTA (2010)
The seeds in each flask were transferred into a prefungi; Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium weighed watch glass, dried at 45oC for 24 hours oxysporum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus and the spores and mycelia of the fungi removed by niger resulted in varying degrees of deterioration
Summary
V. unguiculata is an important grain legume grown in the tropics where it serves as good source of protein for millions of people (Boukar et al, 2017). Cowpea is mostly produced and consumed in the sub-Saharan Africa especially Central and West Africa. The main world producers are Nigeria, Brazil and Niger (Marques et al, 2015). Nigeria has an annual grain production of approximately 2.14 million metric tonnes (FAOStat, 2017). Burkina Faso and Niger Republic are other major producers with 0.57 and 1.59 million metric tonnes respectively per annum. Other countries that cultivate cowpea in Africa are: Senegal, Ghana, Mali, and Cameroon (Directorate Plant Protection, 2011)
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