Quality deterioration in maize grain as judged by changes in proximate composition caused by S. zeamais after three months post infestation was determined by proximate analyses of the maize grain before and after the infestation. Fifty grammes of maize were treated with 0.5 g and 1.0 g of each plant powder (i.e. kernel of Azadiracta indica, bulb of Allium sativa, rhizome of Zingiber officinale, leaves of Nicotiana tabacum and Ocimum basilicum and along with conventional insecticide, Coopex). The results showed that the percentage total protein determined by the estimate of total nitrogen content did not decrease much after three months of post infestation. The percentage ash in the maize grain decreased with storage period. The percentage fibre was higher in the untreated control (7.02%), than on the treated grains (3.23%). The percentage carbohydrate however, decreased (69.85%) with increase in infestation period. The minerals content in infested grains decreased substantially due to insect feeding. The findings have indicated that all the tested materials have potentials of reducing effect of S. zeamais on the nutritional composition of maize grains at 1.0g of powder/50g of grains, but A. indica is more efficacious.

The study isolate, identified and characterized fungi associated with spoilage of store maize grains in Birnin Kebbi. Two maize varieties were used samar 37VA and samar 37B. The two samples were collected from the store for isolation and identification of fungi associated with maize grain spoilage. Pour plate method were used in the enumeration of fungi which showed that fungi count was found on samar 37 VA washed maize had 4+ 0.00 to 8+ 1.11 and unwashed samar 37 VA had 7.00+1.00 to 10+ 3.00. Pure colonies on PDA agar plate were identified base on the morphological characteristics. Twenty nine (29) fungi isolates were identified and belong to three (3) genera i.e Aspergillus species. Rhizopus species and Penicillium species. Inferential statistics were used (Frequency and percentage). Aspergillus species had 13(44.83), Rhizopus species 11(37.93), Penicillium species 5 (17.24). Aspergillus sp. Were the most frequent fungi isolated. From the study it showed that maize grain are affected by fungi under various treatment factors. Therefore there is the need to further study the biochemical and molecular properties of the fungi isolated and to screen the fungi isolated for cellulolytic properties.