Abstract
The present study is aimed at growing Aspergillus niger on a variety of plant extract based culture media prepared by using various components of different plants. The extracts were used in combination with or without carbon and nitrogen sources along with the mineral salt solution (MSS) to prepare the culture media for the cultivation of Aspergillus niger. The growth of the fungus on these media was measured in terms of radial extension of the mycelia and the spore count, which was then compared with the growth on a conventional medium, potato dextrose agar (PDA). A maximum fungal mycelial extension, 85 mm was achieved on PDA and the extract media without supplementation and 90 mm on the media with supplementation in ten days. The spore count on PDA and extract media with and without supplementation was found to be 5.08 x 106 , 4 x 104 – 8.76 x 106 and 105 – 8.6 x 105 / 5mm disc/mL, respectively. The spore count of Aspergillus niger in supplemented media is comparable (and in some cases even better) as that of PDA.
