Fungal Diversity and Aflatoxins in Maize and Rice Grains and Cassava-Based Flour (Pupuru) from Ondo State, Nigeria

Grains and cassava-based foods serve as major dietary sources for many households in Nigeria. However, these are highly prone to contamination by moulds aflatoxins owing poor storage vending practices. Therefore, we studied the fungal diversity maize, flour (pupuru), rice vended markets from Ondo state, Nigeria, assessed their aflatoxin levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Molecular analysis of 65 representative isolates recovered ground grains pupuru samples revealed 26 species belonging five genera: Aspergillus (80.9%), Penicillium (15.4%), Talaromyces (1.9%) Ascomycota; Syncephalastrum (1.2%) Lichtheimia (0.6%) Mucoromycota. flavus was predominant samples. Aflatoxins were found 73.8% 42 food 41.9% exceeded 10 μg/kg threshold adopted Nigeria total aflatoxins.