Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) for Yeast and Mold Isolation

Description

Product Description: Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA)

Overview
Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) is a widely used culture medium specifically designed for the isolation and enumeration of yeasts and moulds. In particular, it is commonly employed in food products like dairy, making it crucial for microbiological quality control. Moreover, this medium adheres to industry standards set by organizations such as APHA and FDA.

Key Ingredients
The formulation of PDA includes the following ingredients:

• Potato Infusion: 6.0 g/liter
• Dextrose: 20.0 g/liter
• Agar: 20.0 g/liter

Notably, this combination promotes robust fungal growth. Additionally, the final pH is maintained at 5.6 ± 0.2 at 25°C, which helps inhibit bacterial contamination. As a result, this ensures accurate results during microbial analysis.

Preparation Instructions
To prepare PDA, follow these steps:

1. Dissolve 46.0 g of the dehydrated powder in 1 liter of distilled water.
2. Heat while stirring until boiling.
3. Sterilize in an autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes.
4. Cool to 40-45°C and pour into Petri dishes.

Consequently, the resulting medium will appear as a yellowish to milky white, semi-transparent gel, ideal for supporting yeast and mould growth.

Applications
PDA is versatile and commonly used for various applications, including:

• Microbial analysis in food products.
• Stimulating sporulation and maintaining stock cultures of dermatophytes.
• Differentiating between varieties based on pigment production in mycological studies.

To achieve optimal results, incubate inoculated plates at 28 ± 1°C for 48-96 hours. Furthermore, careful incubation conditions can enhance the accuracy of your findings.

Storage and Shelf Life
Store Potato Dextrose Agar in a tightly capped container at 5-30°C, away from moisture and light. Importantly, the shelf life is three years, provided it is stored properly. Therefore, avoid using any dehydrated medium that shows signs of caking or color variation.

Conclusion
Choose Potato Dextrose Agar for reliable yeast and mould analysis in your laboratory. Ultimately, its proven effectiveness and ease of use make it a staple in food safety testing. Thus, it plays a vital role in ensuring the highest quality standards in your products.

Explore our Food Hygiene Detection Series, featuring specialized culturing media designed for the detection of harmful bacteria such as Bacillus cereus, Salmonella, and E. coli.