Potato dextrose agar (BAM Media M127[1]) and potato dextrose broth are common microbiological growth media made from potato infusion and dextrose. Potato dextrose agar (abbreviated "PDA") is the most widely used medium for growing fungi and bacteria.[2]
PDA has the capability to culture various bacteria and fungi found in the soil. This agar can be used with antibiotics or acid to inhibit bacterial/fungal growth. PDA is used in the food industry to test for fungi that can spoil food products. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry to screen for potential antifungal agents in medications.[3]
Potato dextrose agar is a versatile growing medium for bacteria and fungi (yeasts and molds). This agar is used for a broad range of fungi but there are other agars that are more selective for specific types of fungi. These agars include but are not limited to malt extract agar and sabouraud agar. Malt extract agar is more acidic than PDA and is commonly used to cultivate penicillium species.[4] Sabouraud agar is also slightly acid with pH of 5.6-6.0 which is similar to PDA. It is most often used for the isolation of pathogenic fungi such as dermatophytes.
- ^ BAM Media M127: Potato Dextrose Agar from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- ^ Harold Eddleman, Ph. D (February 1998). "Making Bacteria Media from Potato". Indiana Biolab. disknet.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
- ^ Pitt & Hocking (2009). Fungi and food spoilage. Springer Science & Business Media. Bibcode:2009ffs..book.....P.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Atlas of clinical fungi". Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (2). 2009.