Abstract

---

The African oil bean seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla) is widely used as a traditional food condiment and is valued for its high protein content. This study focused on assessing the microbiological quality and molecular characterization of microorganisms associated with African oil bean seeds stored under conventional methods. Samples were obtained from three different markets in the Ilorin metropolis of Nigeria: Mandate, Ojo Oba, and Ganmo. Isolates were identified using 16S RNA GENE sequencing and the BLAST algorithm. Microbial counts ranged from 3.7 ± 1.4 x 106 to 6.3 ± 0.5 x 106 cfu/g African oil bean seeds from the Mandate market had the highest bacterial load of 6.3 ± 0.5 x 106 cfu/g followed by those from Ganmo with a bacterial load of 5.3 ± 0.5 x 106 cfu/g, while samples from the Oja Oba market had counts of 4.5 ± 2.2 x 104 cfu/g. The bacteria isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus CIP 9973; and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum Pec 1; Enterobacter cloacae AS10 Klebsiella aerogenes OFM28; Escherichia coli 2013C-3342; Proteus mirabilis UPMSD3; Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116; Lactobacillus plantarum NRIC 0383. This study emphasized the importance of molecular characterization in determining the genetic diversity and assessing the microbial quality of the African oil bean seed in ensuring food safety and public health

Keywords: Bacteria, characterization, oil seeds, quality