Vol. 15 No. 156 - 163 (2024): Isolation and identification of mycoflora associated with Gmelina arborea wood in some selected timber sheds within Biu, Biu Local Government Area, Borno State NIGERIA

Gmelina arborea plantation is one of the largest plantations in Nigeria from which raw
materials for paper industries, buildings, constructions and carpentry works is obtained. This
research was aimed at investigating the mycoflora associated with the wood of Gmelina
arborea, many of which led to wood decay in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
Samples were collected from the affected part of the wood in three strategic study areas
(Timber sheds) namely: Kasuwar Katako, Main market, and Muhammad Bwala timber shed.
Isolation was carried out by inoculating the different samples on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA)
plates in the laboratory of the Department of Biology, Nigerian Army University Biu; and
incubated at a temperature of 280C for a week from which pure cultures were obtained after
subculturing the different fungal colonies. Identification of the fungal species was carried out
using macroscopic and microscopic examinations. These are Absidia corynbifera,
Microsporum jypseum, Microsporum fulvum, Rhizopus microsporus and Rhizopus orizae. The
percentage frequency of each of these fungi was also determined using the means. The result
obtained from this research shows that Rhizopus microsporus is the most prevalent found in
all the three study areas while the other four species were encountered only once in one study
area or the other. Therefore, further research should be carried out on the treatment and
proper storage of wood decay to minimise spoilage and boost the economy.