PROXIMATE AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF HEALTHY AND INFECTED MAIZE GRAINS IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

Four samples of stored maize grains were bought from Awka, Awkuzu, Onitsha and Nnewi. Direct and indirect methods of Fawole and Oso, 1998 were used to isolate the fungi responsible for the spoilage of post harvest maize grains after which four genera were isolated namely: Curvularia spp, Fusarium spp, Rhizopus spp and Aspergillus spp. They were identified using Barmette and Haunter, 1987 method of identification. The percentage of occurrence of the fungi from different samples shows that Aspergillus niger occured with a frequency of 31.5%, A. flavus with 31%, Rhizopus spp with 15.25%, Fusarium spp with 14.5% and the least Curvularia spp with 7.5%. AOAC method of 1999 was used to obtain the nutritional values of the maize grains. Good and spoilt maize grains were used in this research. Spoilt maize grains were used after four months of purchase. Anova were used to compare the nutritional values of both good and spoilt maize samples from the different locations. Six nutrients were obtained from both good and spoilt maize grains namely: crude protein, crude fibre, crude fat, moisture content, ash content and carbohydrate. The results differ in their values for both good and spoilt maize grains. The spoilt maize grains have little protein, fibre and fat and more of ash and carbohydrate. Further research was made on the phytochemical contents of maize and seven metabolites were obtained mamely: oxalate, phytate, tannin, phenol, alkaloid, flavonoid and glycoside. In order to reduce post-harvest grain loss of maize, periodical training of farmers on proper storage facilities are necessary