Microbial Evaluation and Identification of AflatoxinProducing Fungi in Dried Stored Maize Samples Sold in Open Markets in Benin City, Nigeria
Maize (Zea mays) is an annual monoecious crop and the most important cereal in the world after wheat and rice with regard to cultivation areas and total production. Despite the various improvements in the drying and storage of maize, the growth of moulds is usually a common occurrence in stored grains. The grain is vulnerable to biodeterioration by mycotoxigenic fungi which include Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium.