Preparation and evaluation of dehydrated mycological media from West African raw materials

Twelve culture media powders prepared from local raw materials were evaluated for their mycological utility using Nigrospora oryzae as the initial test organism. Radial growth of N. oryzae was greater (P < 0.05) on media from pigeon pea, soybean and ripe plantain than on Oxoid potato-dextrose agar (PDA) control. Two other media supported radial growth comparable to potato-dextrose agar. More conidia were produced on the ripe plantain medium (44/microscope field) than on PDA (3.4/microscope field). In an additional test, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia lunata and Choanephora cucurbitarum grew and sporulated well on selected media. Local media were inexpensive and easy to produce but tended to be characterised by reduced clarity and presence of particles after autoclaving and jelling.