PRODUCTION OF MYCOLOGICAL MEDIA USING LOCAL RAW INEDIBLE MATERIALS

The use of local inedible raw materials in the formulation of mycological laboratory medium, which is cost-effective, was carried out using Brewer’s spent grain (BSG) samples obtained from Intafact Breweries, Onitsha, Anambra State. The BSG was mixed with 5 g of cow blood, 20 g of Ede mmuo (Caladium bicolor), 5 g of Fiofio, and 20 g of agar-agar as a gelling agent. The other medium was prepared with the same materials but without agar-agar. The formulated media were inoculated with Aspergillus niger as the test fungus. The two different media were compared based on growth diameter. The fungal organism grew faster on agar-agar medium with a wider colony diameter. On agar-agar medium, the length on the 1st day for the four plates was 1 cm each. The second day for the four plates includes: Plate 1 (15.0 mm), plate 2 (20.0 mm), plate 3 (10 mm), and plate 4 (15 mm). Third day includes: plate 1 (30 mm), plate 2 (40 mm), plate 3 (32 mm), and plate 4 (35 mm). Fourth day includes: Plate 1 (60 mm), plate 2 (50 mm), plate 3 (35 mm), and plate 4 (60 mm). In the non-agar-agar medium, the length on the 1st day for the four plates was 3 mm each. The second day for the four plates included: Plate 1 (10.0 mm), plate 2 (11.0 mm), plate 3 (11.0 mm), and plate 4 (10.0 mm). Third day included: plate 1 (12.0 mm), plate 2 (14.0 mm), plate 3 (13.0 mm), and plate 4 (13.0 mm). Fourth day included: Plate 1 (15.0 mm), plate 2 (16.0 mm), plate 3 (14.0 mm), and plate 4 (15.0 mm).