Abstract

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Food security is required national development and for human survival. However, it is important that food security should not be seen only in the perspective of availability but also on safety. This study determined the mycological quality of selected white and yellow Garri sold within Jos North metropolis. The study was conducted at the biology laboratory of Federal College of Forestry, Jos. A total of 24 samples (12 white and 12 yellow) were purchased from Katako, Terminus, Busa buji and New market. The sample were collected in sterile polyethylene nylon. The fungi were isolated using prepared and sterilized Patatose dextrose agar. Identification of fungi was carried using microscopic method. Disk Diffusion Technique on Muller Hilton Agar (MHA) was used to determine fungal sensitivity. Data were statistical analyses using ANOVA and t-test at pvalue ≥ 0.05. The means was separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The result revealed white Garri from Terminus has the highest fungal load of 14.50+ 1.26 Sfu/gl. Busa buji showed the lowest value of 5.50±1.53 Sfu/gl. The Fungi isolated were Aspergillus niger, Curvilaria sp, Penicillium sp, fusarium oxysparum, Geitricum sp and Macrophrosis. Aspergillus sp had the highest frequency of occurrence (28.95% and 23.68%) in both white and yellow Garri while Macrophrosis had the least frequency occurrence of 2.63%. The pH values of white and yellow Garri ranges between 5 and 6 and moisture content showed that yellow Garri had the highest moisture content of 21.76 ± 1.24. The isolate were more sensitive to keteconarzole than fluconazole and Griseofulvin. The findings revealed that consumers are exposed to the risk of fungal infestation. Therefore renewed vigilance on the efficiency of garri processing condition, handling and storage is required.

Keywords: Garri, fungi, pH, moisture content, consumers