ABSTRACT

The high cost of microbial culture media necessitates the screening and production of alternative media from cheap local materials. Mycological culture media has a great role to play in the growth and sporulation of fungi. In this study, the feasibility of using nutrient sources from Garri (a tuber product) and Akamu (a cereal product) to cultivate fungal species was investigated together with a conventional media-Sabouraud Dextrose agar (SDA) which served as control. Soil samples were serially diluted up to the 6th dilution and were inoculated into the SDA, Akamu and Garri medium using pour plate and spread plate techniques from the 4th dilution tube. Growth of the fungal species was observed to be slightly lower in the alternative media but was about the same to the control (SDA). The isolates were identified based on preliminary morphology and microscopic examination. They were species of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Rhizopus. From the percentage mean of each isolate, 89% of Penicillium grew on SDA. This was closely followed by Garri with 76% and Akamu with 32%. The frequency of isolation of Aspergillus was 38% on SDA, 37% on Garri and 65% on Akamu. Rhizopus recorded 64% in SDA, 57% in Garri and 16% in Akamu. SDA has been reported to be a better media for the cultivation of fungi but however, results from this study shows that hot-water made Garri and Akamu can compete favourably with SDA. Colony radical growth and sporulation of fungi were optimal for Aspergillus on Akamu (21mm) after 72hrs followed by Penicillium on SDA (18.2mm) after 72hrs The results from this research work shows that alternative media produced from maize and cassava (cheap raw materials) can be used for the cultivation of fungi in scenarios where acquiring conventional media is difficult.

Table of Contents

Title Page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table f Contents v

List of Tables vii

List of Plates viii Abstract                                     ix

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Aims and Objectives 3

Chapter Two

2.0     Literature Review 4

2.1   Media as a Research tool 4

2.1.1 Media Sterilization & Aseptic Techniques 6

2.2    Garri 6

2.2.1 Cassava: Raw Material for Garri 8

2.2.2 Cyanide Detoxification 10

2.2.3 Potentials and Future of Cassava as Animal and Microbial Feed 11

2.3 Ogi/Akamu 11

2.4 Fungi 12

2.4.1 Penicillium 14

2.4.2 Rhizopus 15

Chapter Three: Materials and Methods

3.0 Materials and Methods 16

3.1 Materials 16

3.2 Methodology 16

3.2.1 Sterilization of Materials 16

3.2.2 Preparation of Media 16

3.2.3 Preparation of Inoculums Size 17

3.2.4 Inoculation of plates 17

3.2.5 Incubation 18

3.2.6 Isolation and Identification 18

3.2.7 Purification of Isolates 18

3.2.8 Lactophenol Cotton Blue test 19

Chapter Four:  Results

4.0 Results 20

Chapter Five:  Discussion and Conclusion

5.1 Discussion 26

5.2 Conclusion 28

References 30

LIST OF TABLES

Table Title Page 

1 Frequency/Occurrence of Various Fungal Isolates on Garri, Akamu andSDA.    21

2 Colony Morphology and Microscopic description     22

3 Number of Each Isolate on Garri, Akamu and SDA     23

ean Colony Diameter (mm) of Each Isolate on Garri, SDA and Akamu after 48 and 72 Hrs of Incubation.     24

5 % Mean of Each Isolate on Akamu, Garri and SDA     25

LIST OF PLATES

Plate Title Page

I Plate showing growth of fungi on Akamu 35

II A plate showing growth of Aspergillus on Akamu 34

III Plate showing growth of fungi on SDA 36