ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ASPERGILLUS NIGER FROM PROPANIL-CONTAMINATED RICE FARMS

The purpose of this study was to isolate Aspergillus niger from Enugu propanyl-contaminated rice farms. A total of eight propanil-contaminated soil samples (two each from Nenwe, Umuueze, Amagunze and Ugbauka) were collected and analyzed for the presence of Aspergillus niger. Aspergillus niger was isolated using Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). After the incubation period, the number of unit-forming colonies was counted to determine the average fungal number. Soil samples cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar plates were found to be overgrown with Aspergillus niger. Aspergillus niger was identified by its macroscopic and microscopic features. The average total fungal counts in the tested soil samples were 3.5 x 102 CFU/mL, 1.8 x 102 CFU/mL, 2.4 x 102 CFU/mL, and 2.8 x 102 CFU/mL for Nenwe, Ugbawka, Amagunze, and Umueze soil samples. was. A total of 7 of the 8 samples (2 from Nenwe, Amagunze, Umuueze and 1 from Ugbauka) were positive for Aspergillus niger, and 8 soil samples yielded atotal of 10 Aspergillus niger isolates. Of the 10 Aspergillus niger isolated, 4 (80%) were found in Nenwe and Amgunze soil samples and 1 (20%) was found in Ugbauka and Umuueze soil samples. Aspergillus niger was more common in the Nenwe and Amagunze soil samples than in the Ugbauka and Umuueze soil samples. The limited number of Aspergillus niger isolated from rice farms may be due to the presence of propanil in soil samples. Therefore, propanil has some effect on the prevalence of Aspergillus niger in soil samples from rice farms.