Mycoflora of grain maize (Zea mays L.) stored in traditional storage containers (gombisa and sacks) in selected woredas of Jimma zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Mycoflora of maize (Zea mays L.) grain (Variety: Bako Hybrid-660) stored in two traditional storage containers (Gombisa and Sacks) for 180 days was studied for mycoflora in two agro-ecologies, that is Intermediate and Lowland, with altitude ranges of 1500-2500 meters above sea level, and 1000-1500 meters above sea level, respectively, in Jimma zone, Ethiopia. The temperature and relative humidity were observed for identifying fungi species which can flourish and cause maximum deterioration to maize grains. Significant (P0.05) effect was observed under lowland agro-ecology due to storage container type. One sterile white mycelium and a total number of eight species of fungi viz., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus tereus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Drechslera halodes, Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium chrysogenum were identified from maize grain at the beginning and during storage. The most common fungi recorded from both agro-ecologies in...