Abstract

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This study on microorganisms associated with plantain sources was carried out in the Microbiological laboratory of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria. Plantain {Musa Paradisiacal) is a rhizomatous nutritional perennial crop used as a source of starchy staple for millions of people in Nigeria. The total heterotrophic bacterial count for sample sources in cfu/mL ranged from 68 x 105; 78 x 105 while coliform count was 3 x 10 ;4 x 10 in wet sample and dry sample respectively. The morphological and biochemical characterization of the isolates encountered was determined. The eleven bacterial species obtained from dry flour are categorized into specific bacterial groups including two Gram negative organism such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp., while the rest nine are Gram positive organisms including Bacillus cereus (3), Bacillus globisporus (3), Bacillus circulans (2) and Entcrococcus spp(l). In wet plantain sample sources, nine bacterial species were encountered. Only two are Gram negative (E. coli) while the rest seven isolates are Gram positive (including Enterococcus (2) one strain each of Bacillus circulans. Bacillus insolitus, Bacillus alcalophilus and Lactobacillus fennentum). The fungal species isolated during the study include Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicilliumchry sogenum, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium spp., Rhizopus stolonifer and Mucorspp. This study shows the prevalence of fungi in plantain and the microbial quality of plantain both in wet and dry state when consumed.

Keywords: Food; Microorganisms; Mycoflora; Plantain; Quality