Genomic Characterization of Bacteria and Fungi Associated with Palm Wine (Raphia raphia and Elaeis guineensis) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Palm wine has been severally reported for its nutritional, medical, religious and social uses in Nigeria. The ever increasing importance of this product has resulted in an increased demand and consumption of the product. The aim of this study therefore, was to investigate the pattern of microbial contamination of palm wine of different origin. In the present study, the genomic characterization of bacterial and fungal isolates associated with palm wine (Raphia Raphia and Elaeis guineensis) was carried out using classic microbiological procedures. The bacterial and fungal species were isolated on standard microbiological media, followed by the Sanger method for their genomic identities. The data obtained indicated the presence of several species of bacteria such as Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus circulans and Bacillus amyloliquef. The molecular characterization also revealed the fungal isolates included Pichia species. Results of enumeration of the microbial population revealed the association of palm wine from oil Elaeis guineensis with higher counts of total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) and total heterotrophic fungi, THF (2.67 x 104 cfu/ml and 1.64 x 103 cfu/ml, respectively) as against palm wine from Raphia raphia (raphia palm) with values of 1.58 x 104 cfu/ml and 1.60 x 103 cfu/ml, for THB and THF, respectively. The microbiological quality of the palm wine samples reported in this study has accentuated some industrial and health importance of the product.