Mushroom Culture

Preparation of media for raising of Pure culture

The pure cultures are raised on a convenient culture medium which are generally in solidified state due to the addition of Agar-agar , a sea weed. The composition of media and the methods of preparation are as given below :

1. Potato - dextrose Agar medium ( PDA)

Peeled and sliced potato ---- 250 g.
Dextrose ---- 20 g
Agar –agar powder ---- 20 g
Water ---- 1000 ml

About 250 gram potato are peeled, cut into small pieces, boiled in water for 25-30 minutes and filtered through a muslin cloth. The volume of the extract is raised to 1000 ml with water and boiled along with dextrose and agar-agar powder so as to get a thoroughly mixed solution. Before filling in the test tubes or narrow mouthed Erlenmeyer flasks (for pouring media in Petri plates sterilized in an oven at 180ºC for two hours ) , the pH is adjusted to 7.0 and then after plugging with non-absorbent cotton, sterilized at 15 lbs p.s.i for 15 – 20 minutes in an autoclave or pressure cooker.

2. Potato -dextrose Yeast Agar Medium ( PDYA )
Just like preparation of PDA , PDYA can be prepared by adding 2g Yeast extract in the solution for selected fungi .

3. Malt Extract Agar medium ( MEA )

Malt extract ---- 25 g
Agar- agar powder ---- 20 g
Distilled water ---- 1000 ml
( pH—7.0 )

Malt extract and agar are mixed in 1 litre water and boiled by continuously stirring with a glass rod so as to avoid formation of clumps.

4. Compost Extract Agar medium ( CEA )

Pasteurized compost ---- 150 g
Agar –agar powder ---- 20 g
Water ---- 1000 ml
( pH ----7.0 )

Compost is boiled in 1.5 to 2.0 litre water for few minutes till volume of the water is reduced to half and after filtering through muslin cloth, the volume is again made to 1 litre and autolclaved after mixing agar powder in it and filling in the test tubes.

5.Malt Peptone Grain Agar Medium ( MPGA )

Malt extract ---- 20 g
Rye or Wheat grains ---- 5 g
Yeast ( Optional ) ---- 2 g
Agar-agar powder ---- 20 g
Peptone ---- 5 g
( pH -7.0 )

Wheat or rye grains are boiled in water for 1-1.5 hours, the filterate is mixed with other ingredients and continuously stirred while heating before filling and autoclaving.