Fungi Associated with Fermented Cocoa Beans during Sun-drying in a Farm Settlement in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fungi associated with cocoa beans during sun drying were carried out for eight days in a village in Edo State of Nigeria during the month of September, 2016. Raised platform of local mat constructed with bamboo was used for the sun-drying. Eight fungi were encountered at different time interval from the drying cocoa bean and identified as A. niger, Penicillium sp. A. flavus, Rhizopus sp., Phytophthora sp., Fusarium sp, A. fumigatus and Botryodiploda sp, respectively.

The frequency of occurrences of the different fungal isolates in the work showed that A. niger (27.8%) and Penicillium sp (20.4%) had the highest frequency of occurrence during the period of sun drying. This was followed by A. flavus (16.7%), Rhizopus sp (11.1%), Phytophthora sp. (7.4%), Fusarium sp (7,4%), A. fumigatus (5.6%) while Botryodiploda sp had the lowest frequency of occurrence (3.7%).Observation of good agricultural and sun-drying practices is therefore necessary to reduce the mould population on the beans and thus limit the risk of contamination.