Abstract

Five samples of ‘orunla’ (sliced dried okra fruits) were purchased from selected markets within Ibadan city, Nigeria. These were wrapped in cellophane paper and stored for 4 months. Laboratory made ‘orunla’ samples which acts as control were also prepared. Mycoorganisms were isolated from fresh and stored samples. Effect of storage time on proximate and mineral element contents (Fe, Mg, and P) were also determined. Both fresh and stored ‘orunla’ samples were also screened for possible aflatoxin contamination. The results of the work showed that, biodeteriorating fungi isolated from the market samples and their percentage occurrences include Aspergillus flavus (16.88%), A. niger (16.23%), A. fumigatus (16.23%) and Rhizopus nigricans (16.23%) while Mucor mucedo (5%), Candida albicans (2%) and Trichoderma sp. (2%) had the least percentage occurrences. The moisture contents of the samples range from (9.80% to 16.36%), protein (11.27% to 18.74%), ether extract (1.37% to 2.11%), crude fiber (38.18 A.27%), ash (11.70% to 12.55%), carbohydrates (31.15% to31.58%) and dry matter (45.07% to 45.22%). Storage time had significant effect on the nutrient and aflatoxin content of all the samples (P>0.05). Mg and P values were not significantly different from each other except the control. Also, the storage time had effect on the Aflatoxin content in market samples as their aflatoxin content varied and increased with the time of storage. Highest concentration of aflatoxin was detected in Ojaoba samples (10.20?/Kg AFB1, 7.30?/Kg AFB2, 5.7?/Kg AFG1 and 3.22?/KgAFG2), Moniya (8.50?/Kg AFB1, 6.3?/Kg AFB2, 4.9?/KgAFG1 and 3.17?/KgAFG2) and Apete (9.7?/Kg AFB1, 4.4?/Kg AFB2, 3.8?/Kg AFG1 and 2.9?/KgAFG2) samples while the least aflatoxin was detected in the control (0.0?/Kg AFB1, AFG1 AFG2 and 0.13?/Kg AFB2) and Ojoo (2.50?/Kg AFB1, 2.10?/Kg AFB2, 2.1?/Kg AFG1 and 1.90?/KgAFG2) after four month of storage. The implication of these results were discussed.