Role of Halonil in Reducing Contamination in Culture Media

Abstract

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An experiment was conducted to determine the role of halonil (chlorothalonil) on reduction of contamination on artificial culture media. Potato dextrose agar plates were amended with various concentrations of halonil which included 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% g/lit. Plates were initially placed on lab benches with lids removed and assessed for fungal growth. Individual spores of Alternaria alternate was picked with a pastier pipe and  then placed  in the center of PDA plates variously amended with halonil. Like wise, mycelial plugs excised from the periphery of an actively growth colony of the test fungus were also placed on PDA plates and checked for colony growth. No growth was observed when spores acted as inoculum growth however of observed when mycelial plugs were used as inoculum. Halonil can therefore be used affectively in checking lab contamination without the use of laminar flow unit.

Keywords: Halonil, Culture media