Molecular Detection of Mycological Content in Ready to Eat Garri in Bayelsa State

Background and Objective: Garri is a powdery carbohydrate-based food material of cassava root tubers (Manihot esculenta Crantz) consumed predominantly in West African countries. It can be processed with palm oil rich in carotenoid (Light-yellow) or without palm oil (Creamy-white). In Nigeria, garri is widely acceptable and consumed by both the poor, the middle men or average Nigerian, and also the rich because it serves as a major source of carbohydrate.

The study aimed at detecting fungal strains that produce mycotoxins in garri sourced from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Materials and Methods: A total number of fifty freshly prepared and market displayed-garri samples were collected and processed using standard mycological techniques and Polymerase Chain Reaction from the 23 villages that constitute the LGA.

Results: Results showed that the moulds isolated in yellow garri samples in this study were; Aspergillus spp 9(37.50%),Cladosporium spp 5(20.83%), Fusarium spp 4(16.67%), Penicillus spp 3(12.50%), Rhizopus spp 2(8.30%) and Mucor spp 1(4.17%), while those isolated in the white garri samples were; Aspergillus spp 6(25%), Penicillium spp 8(33.3%), Cladosporium spp 4(16.7%), Rhizopus spp 2(8.3%), Mucor spp 1(4.1%), Alternaria spp 2(8.3%) and Fusarium spp 1(4.1%) with predominance of Penicillium and Asperigellus species. Twenty samples subjected to molecular analysis to determine the Internal Transcribed Spacer region (ITS) and characterization of the fungal strains were all positive (100%).

Conclusion: Fungal contamination on garri mostly results from unhealthy post-processing activity basically from poor packaging and storage. Mycotoxins from fungal strains have serious health implications on humans therefore it is paramount that proper packaging and storage of this product is publicized to reduce its mycological contamination.