Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Comparison of Methods for Isolating Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soil Samples
07:16

Comparison of Methods for Isolating Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soil Samples

Published on: January 6, 2022

5.3K

Heat-resistant Fungi in Soil Samples from Northern Nigeria

R N Okagbue1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Journal of Food Protection
|April 18, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Heat-resistant fungi (HRF) were found in 77% of Northern Nigerian soil samples. These fungi, including Neosartorya species, can spoil heat-processed fruits and fruit products.

Area of Science:

  • Food Microbiology
  • Mycology
  • Agricultural Science

Background:

  • Heat-resistant fungi (HRF) pose a spoilage risk to heat-processed foods, particularly fruits and fruit products.
  • Understanding the prevalence of HRF in agricultural soils is crucial for food safety and quality control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and types of heat-resistant fungi in soil samples from Northern Nigeria.
  • To identify specific HRF species capable of causing spoilage in heat-processed fruit products.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 156 soil samples from Northern Nigeria.
  • Applied heat treatment (70°C for 1 hour) to soil samples.
  • Plated samples on potato sucrose agar and identified fungal isolates.

Main Results:

  • Approximately 77% of soil samples contained HRF.
  • Identified species include Neosartorya fischeri, N. fischeri var. spinosus, N. quadricincta, and Aspergillus fischeri.
  • Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium spp. were found less frequently, with counts ranging from 18-300 propagules/10g soil.

Conclusions:

  • Soil in Northern Nigeria harbors significant levels of heat-resistant fungi.
  • The identified HRF species pose a potential threat to the shelf-life and safety of heat-processed fruit products.
  • Further research into control strategies for these fungi in food processing is warranted.

More Related Videos

Isolation and Selection of Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soil Samples and Evaluation of Fungal Virulence against Insect Pests09:42

Isolation and Selection of Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soil Samples and Evaluation of Fungal Virulence against Insect Pests

Published on: September 28, 2021

10.5K
Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials08:21

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials

Published on: May 16, 2022

5.8K

Related Concept Videos

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
47.2K
The Soil Ecosystem02:23

The Soil Ecosystem

Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not only on the chemical constituents but also on the presence of living organisms. In general, soils contain three major components:
24.6K
Overview of Fungi01:29

Overview of Fungi

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotes more closely related to animals than other eukaryotes. Fungal cell walls comprise chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural strength, and glucans, which contribute to flexibility and integrity. Other polysaccharides, such as mannans and galactosans, may supplement or replace chitin in some fungi. These adaptations, along with their preference for acidic environments and tolerance for high osmotic pressure, enable fungi to thrive in various...
1.7K
Quantifying Heat02:46

Quantifying Heat

Thermal Energy Microscopically, thermal energy is the kinetic energy associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules. Temperature is a quantitative measure of “hot” or “cold”, which depends on the amount of thermal energy. When the atoms and molecules in an object are moving or vibrating quickly, they have a higher average kinetic energy (KE) (or higher thermal energy), and the object is perceived as “hot”, or it is described as being at a higher temperature. When the...
61.8K
Specific Heat01:16

Specific Heat

The specific heat capacity of a substance refers to the energy required to increase the temperature of one gram of that substance by one degree Celcius. Specific heat capacity is often represented in calories (cal), grams (g), and degrees Celsius (oC), but can also be expressed in joules (J), kilograms (kg), and Kelvin (K), among other units.
For example, increasing the temperature of one gram of water by 1°C requires one calorie of heat energy and can be written as 1 cal/g-°C, or...
67.3K
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress02:45

Responses to Heat and Cold Stress

Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
14.7K