World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

FORMULATION OF MICROBIAL GROWTH USING MILLET AND SWEET POTATO

Ashefo D. P.*, Zakka A. W. and Oboh J. E.

ABSTRACT

Culture media supply the nutrients required for the growth and maintenance of microorganism in the laboratory. This study aims to investigate the possibility of using locally available materials (sweet potato and millet) as basal media and as a substitute for commercially available media formulation of microbial growth. Four different media were formulated, namely, Millet agar (MA), Sweet Potato agar (SPA), Millet glucose agar (MGA) and sweet potato dextrose agar (SPGA). The test organisms chosen were bacterial genera Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and fungal genera Aspergillus spp and Rhizopus sp. The suitability of the formulated media was estimated by culturing the isolated species through the pour plating method. The results reveal that the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli is higher in the nutrient agar followed by the formulated millet agar and least growth was seen on the sweet potato agar. The higher growth level in millet compared to sweet potato could be as a result of higher protein and fat content in the millet as bacteria proliferate more on high protein foods. The fungal isolates Aspergillus sp. and Rhizopus sp is higher in the potato dextrose agar followed by sweet potato glucose agar and the least growth was seen on the millet agar. The higher level of fungal growth on the sweet potato glucose agar is due to the higher carbohydrate content in the sweet potato when compared to the millet. These alternative formulations should be used more often in the laboratory for growth and study of microorganisms. More studies should be done on the shelf life of these alternative formulations.

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