Fungal Diversity in selected Cultivated Farmland within the University of Ilorin Campus
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Date
2022-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Federal University of Kashere-Nigeria.
Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the fungal biota composition of selected agricultural soils
and to determine the soil pH level and organic matter content that supports the observed fungal
community in the soils within the University of Ilorin campus. Serial dilution technique was used
to determine the fungal colony count of the sampled soils. Soil pH was determined with the use of
p
H meter and organic matter content of the soil was determined using the Walky Black procedure.
Nine species of fungi belonging to seven genera were isolated from all the sampled soils. The fungi
were identified as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceous, Botryodiplodia
theobromae, Cladosporium sp., Fusarium verticilloides, Penicillium sp., Phomopsis sp. and
Pythium sp. There was no significant difference (p˃0.05) in the population of the isolated fungi in
all the sampled soils except for Phomopsis sp. in soybean cultivated soil samples and Fusarium sp.
in soils sampled from zone C. The results also showed no significant difference (p˃0.05) in the
organic matter content of the soils. The sampled soils were generally slightly acidic with pH values
ranging between 6.03 and 6.88. Significant differences (p<0.05) only existed between the pH values
of cassava cultivated soils obtained from the different zones. These organic matter content and the
p
H values of the soils were found to be within the range suitable for the survival of the fungal
community in the study area.
Description
Keywords
soil pH, organic matter, mycoflora, distribution
Citation
15 Ahmed, O., Abioye, A. I & Omiyale, R. O. (2022): Fungal Diversity in selected Cultivated Farmland within the University of Ilorin Campus. Jewel Journal of Scientific Research (JJSR) 7(1): 70–78