For the cultivation and maintenance of fungi

Composition

*  Dehydrated powder, hygroscopic in nature, store in a dry place, in tightly-sealed containers below 25°C and protect from direct Sunlight.

Instructions for Use

Dissolve 35gms in 1000ml distilled water. Gently heat to boiling with gentle swirling and dissolve the medium completely. Sterilize by autoclaving at 15 psi (121ºC) for 15 minutes. Add and mix 10% Lactic acid solution as a supplement (TS 049). Cool to around 40 – 45ºC and pour into sterile Petri - plates.

Appearance: Light amber colour, clear to slightly opalescent gel

pH (at 25°C): 7.0 ± 0.2

Principle

FUNGAL AGAR is used for the cultivation and maintenance of fungi. The pH of the medium is adjusted to 4.0 after autoclaving by adding sterile 10% lactic acid or acetic acid. A low pH makes the media more selective for fungi and aciduric bacteria. Soyatone provides nitrogen and carbon sources to the medium. Dextrose is a fermentable carbohydrate preferred for most fungi. Agar is a solidifying agent. Aspergillus niger (having white colonies with black spores), Candida albicans (having white spongy colonies) has shown profuse growth on this medium.

Interpretation

Cultural characteristics observed after inoculation (103 CFU/ml), on incubation at 25 ± 30°C for 48 – 72 hours.

References

1. Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods, Speck, M. ed. 2nd Edition. APHA. Washington, D.C. (1984).