Fungal spoilage of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) fruits during storage and the growth differential of isolates on selected amino acids and carbohydrates

P. N. Okolie, C. L. Obi, P. O. Uaboi-Egbenni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Husked and dehusked coconut fruits were stored at 10EC and 30EC for three months. The husked coconut fruits stored at both 10EC and 30EC and the dehusked coconut fruits stored at 10EC showed no evidence of microbial spoilage at the end of the three months storage period. However, dehusked coconut fruits stored at 30EC deteriorated. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger were the principal fungal agents associated with the spoilage. An investigation of the proximate composition of the dehusked fruits stored at 30EC indicated a marked significant difference in the percentage composition of moisture, protein, ascorbic acid and carbohydrate content of 3.97±0.28, 3.98±0.07, 0.01±0.002 and 9.27±1.02 respectively as against 46.82±0.43, 3.77±0.05, 2.48±0.15 and 11.89±0.22 obtained for dehusked coconut fruits prior to storage. These results suggest that the deterioration in nutritional composition was due to breakdown of protein and carbohydrate by the spoilage fungi. Further tests confirmed the ability of the isolated spoilage fungi to utilize the different carbohydrate and nitrogen sources as source of carbon and energy. Aspergillus flavus showed the ability to grow and utilize more of the various carbohydrate sources than Aspergillus Niger, although the latter utilized lactose better. Both fungi showed evidence of growth and complete utilization of nearly all the nitrogen sources, except cysteine and L-glutamine, which could not support the growth Aspergillus niger. Likewise, cysteine and L-glutamine, in addition to D-$-phenylalanine could not support the growth of Aspergillus flavus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)965-973
Number of pages9
JournalPakistan Journal of Nutrition
Volume10
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Carbohydrate
  • Dehusked
  • Deterioration
  • Husked
  • Moisture
  • Protein

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