MICROBIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF DECAYING VEGETABLE (PUMPKIN LEAVES)

This project / study was on the Microbiological examination of decaying pumpkin leaf from Ozoro. Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) is a minimally-processed green leafy vegetable traditionally used for treatment of some ailment and as vegetable in soup. Despite the benefit of this vegetable, there are some micro floras on the leaves which when not properly washed and cooked causes infection. This study result showed that decaying fluted pumpkin leaves contain 30% of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp, Proteus spp and 10% Escherichia coli of bacteria isolated while in fungi isolation, we have 18.75% of Rhizopus, Candida spp, Mucors spp and Fusarium spp and 12.5% of Aspergillius niger and Alternaria alternata.