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Abstract
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Article Information:
Microbial Effects on Selected Stored Fruits and Vegetables under Ambient Conditions in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
S.E. Obetta, T.U. Nwakonobi and O.A. Adikwu
Corresponding Author: S.E. Obetta
Submitted: 2011 February, 03
Accepted: 2011 April, 07
Published: 2011 May, 25 |
Abstract:
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Information on the level of contamination due to bacterial and fungal infestations on some of the
freshly supplied fruits and vegetables in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria is lacking. This study investigated the
microbial load of some freshly supplied fruits and vegetables in Makurdi which included Apples, Banana,
Carrots and Oranges. As part of food quality surveillance study, this work looked at the incidence of pathogen
associated with fruits and vegetables from three locations in Makurdi. The samples were evaluated for bacterial
(coliforms and mesophiles) and fungal (mold and yeast) loads. Results of the microbial test showed that Apple
had the average absolute highest microbial load with mesophilic aerobic plate count of 127 log10CFU/in2,
coliform, 71 log10CFU/in2, yeast, 30 log10CFU/in2 and mold, 22.3 log10CFU/in2. Carrot and Banana followed
with average absolute mesophilic aerobic plate count of 122.3 log10CFU/in2 and 113 log10CFU/in2, coliform of
97.7 and 42.7 log10CFU/in2, yeast, 23.7 and 23.7 log10CFU/in2 and mold, 20.7 and 28 log10CFU/in2, respectively.
Orange had the least microbial load with an average absolute mesophilic aerobic plate count of 27.3
log10CFU/in2, coliform - 30.3 log10CFU/in2, yeast - 21 log10CFU/in2 and a mold count of 29.3 log10CFU/in2. The
ANOVA results showed highly significant effects (p<0.01) of bacteria, fungi and the fruit/vegetable types in
the three locations. The interaction effects between the microbes and the fruit/vegetables were significant and
increased with length of storage.
Key words: Bacteria, fruits/vegetables, fungi, microbial load, plate count, ,
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Cite this Reference:
S.E. Obetta, T.U. Nwakonobi and O.A. Adikwu, . Microbial Effects on Selected Stored Fruits and Vegetables under Ambient Conditions in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, (05): 393-398.
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ISSN (Online): 2040-7467
ISSN (Print): 2040-7459 |
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