Isolation and Identification of Microorganisms Associated with Domestic Food Wastes from a Dumpsite in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
Lawal, Adetoun H. and Boboye, Bolatito E.
Department of Microbiology, P. M. B. 704, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Correspondence: boboye_b@yahoo.com
Accepted on June 25, 2012
Abstract
This study aimed at the isolation and identification of different microorganisms that were associated with the domestic food wastes at the Ondo State Waste Management Board Dumpsite in Akure. The microorganisms were isolated using standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Microbial population of each sample was determined using the pour plate method with nutrient agar (NA) and potato dextrose agar (PDA). The NA and PDA plates were kept at 37°C for 24 hours (bacteria) and 28°C for 7 days (fungi). Bacterial colonies and fungal spore forming units obtained were counted and studied for cultural, microscopic and biochemical traits. The bacterial population of matured compost was high (5.3×106 Cfu/g) relative to those of newly mixed wastes (7.9×105 Cfu/g) and dried matured compost (5×104 Cfu/g). The fungal load of the newly mixed wastes was the highest (4×104 Sfu/g) compared with others that were 2×104 Sfu/g and 3×104 Sfu/g for dried and mature composts, respectively. Nine bacteria were identified as Azotobacter species, Bacillus megaterium, B. sphaericus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Kurthia spp., Macromonas mobilis, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, L. jensenii and Listeria monocytogenes. The six fungi isolated were Amblyosporium botrytis, Geotrichum albidum, Gloeosporium nervisequum, Sepedonium ampullosporum, Streptothrix atra and Variscosporium elodeae. The different microorganisms found to inhabit the domestic food wastes in this study are similar to the microorganisms (Bacillus, Azotobacter and fungi) that have been found associated with the transformation of compost to humus and could be useful in the bioconversion of domestic food wastes into soil amendments and composts, for agricultural purposes.