Evaluating Some Growth Media for the Cultivation of Fungal Cultures

Abstract

An evaluation was carried out on some mineral and vegetable oils and growth media for the preservation of fungal cultures. Fungi such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus glaucus, Fusarium oxysporium, and Rhizopus stolonifer were isolated from food materials using Standard Blotter Method. Pure cultures were obtained and transferred into Potato Dextrose, Soyabean Dextrose, Sawdust Sucrose, Ofor Sucrose and Groundnut Dextrose Broths respectively, to screen their suitability for culturing fungi. After incubation at 27±1OC for 7 days, the organisms were harvested, weighed and growth rate measured. The mean values for all the organisms in Soyabean broth except Fusarium oxysporium, were significantly (P?0.05) higher than those of Groundnut Dextrose, Ofor Sucrose Broth, Sawdust Sucrose Broth and Potato Dextrose Broth. Soyabean Dextrose Broth, performed better than other Broths probably because it contains more vitamins and minerals vital to fungal growth.

Keywords: Growth Media, Fungal Cultures