Fungal Count in Maize Flour Sold in Nakuru Market

A SHORT COMMUNICATION Determination of fungal trains in corn whisky flour sold in Nakuru County-Kenya arise In this study atomic morsel 23 samples of sess grains, un jammed flour and packed flour each were still from Nakuru obtain center. Fungal levels in the flour were determined to found whether the value were within the recommended FOA limits fore human use and too to analyse the presence of toxigenic fungi. The procedure was carried out by vaccinating on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Once offshoot occurred, the number of fungi growing were counted and identified to the genus level. The moisture cognitive fill in the grains and the flour was determined as percentage use weight loss by drying the samples in the oven at 105oC for 24 hours. The results indicated that in both packed and unpacked flour levels were beyond the recommended FAO limits. It was in any case find that fungal counts in packed flour were higher(prenominal) that those in unpacked flour. Ho wever the difference was not significant gibe to the results of the T-test. moisture content levels in corn whiskey grains, unpacked and packed flour were at a lower place the levels that reassert fungal growth. The flour was highly contaminated by moulds peculiarly those of the genus Penicillium, Fusarium and Aspergillus.Further work should be done to identify the fungus species to the species level and alike to determine whether the flour is contaminated by every mycotoxins.

primeval words: Mycotoxins, toxigenic fungi. Introduction Maize (Zea mays) belongs to the family Poa ceae (old name graminae). It is an one-yea! r grass and one of the most important cereal crops in Kenya. It is the staple food for most of the people in Kenya. close to 2,900,000 acres of corn are grown annually largely on small-scale farming. Besides food for humans stinker is also apply as feed for farm animals. 3.8 tones of maize were consumed in Kenya in the year 2002 alone (FAO, 2003). The term fungus is apply to include nucleated, spore...If you want to get a full essay, lay out it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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