Fungal biodiversity associated with groundnuts stored in Nasarawa State

Various food commodities such as groundnuts are prone to fungal contamination in favourable environmental conditions. The purpose of this study was isolate and identify fungi associated with stored groundnuts. A purposeful random sampling employed collect three hundred (300) samples storage for more than six (6) months from local facilities known ‘rumbun’ the agricultural zones (Nasarawa South, Nasarawa North West) State. were grounded cultured potato dextrose agar (PDA) under sterile conditions, aid a microscope flora determined using taxonomical schemes relying on their morphological cultural characteristics. total heterotrophic ranged 1.4 × 102 2.9 105 groundnut South being most contaminated (4.8 104 CFU/g) followed by West (1.6 x 104) least (3.3 103 CFU/g). Fungal diversity included Rhizopus stolonifer (65.3%), highest prevalence Mucor spp (48.5%), Aspergillus niger (43%) flavus (39 %) while Neosartorya fisheri (0.6 %). findings suggests that heavily capable producing mycotoxins which could present public health challenge consumers. It is therefore recommended long term should be properly dried reduce attack reduced moisture.