INCIDENCE OF MOULDS IN SOME VARIETIES OF STORED COWPEA AND PEANUTS IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

Abstract

Incidence and types of mould present in three varieties of peanuts (Ex-Poland, Double colour and Yar Dakar) and cowpea (D.90, GV and Borno Brown) stored in Bulumkutu market, Maiduguri were studied.  Moisture content, percentage seeds surface-infected, total mould count (surface and inner infection) and mould identification were determined.  Moisture content ranged from 13.5– 19.6% and 15.0—20.0% in varieties of peanuts and cowpea respectively.  Varieties of stored cowpea had a wider range of surface infection (19.0-51.0%) compared with peanuts (21.3%-38.4%).  Total mould count was however lower in cowpea (9.2 x 10²—1.8 x 10³ cfu/g) compared with peanuts (1.3 x 10³ - 1.8 x 10³ cfu/g), indicating that peanuts had more mould growing within the seeds than cowpea.  Three genera of mould were identified in each crop—Aspergilus, Penicillium and Zygomycete.  Borno Brown variety of cowpea had the highest load of these mould (57.6%) while GV had the least (14.3%).  In peanut, Ex-Poland variety had the highest load of mould (42.9%) while each of Double colour and Yar Dakar variety had 28.6% load.