ABSTRACT
The transportation of yams from northern to southern Nigeria has various complex problems that lead to spoilage. This study aimed to investigate the microbial and environmental factors contributing to yam spoilage during transportation from northern to southern Nigeria. The total heterotrophic count of microbial factors contributing to spoilage, specifically bacteria and fungi were examined using appropriate culture media. Tryptone soy agar supplemented with fluconazole was used for bacteria, and potato dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol for fungi. The phenotypic and morphological identification of bacteria isolates were carried out using various biochemical tests, such as Gram staining, catalase, urease, indole, oxidase, sugar fermentation, citrate utilization, and triple sugar iron agar tests. The bacterial count in this study ranged from 2.97X106±9.00 to 3.15X106±24.50 cfu/g, while the fungi count ranged from 2.10X105±2.50 to 2.26X105±4.00 cfu/g. The fungi isolates obtained were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium sp, and Mucor sp, while the bacteria isolates obtained were Enterobacter earogenes, Pseudomonas sp, Staphylococcus aureus, and Shigella. The temperatures of the yams during transportation were recorded as 40°C and 37°C for sample 1 and 2, respectively, the research aligns with previous studies, indicating spoilage during transportation and emphasizing the need for improved transportation and storage practices to reduce yam spoilage during transportation.
