"Exploring Locally Sourced Cereal Grains As Alternative Media For Fungal Growth: A Comparative Study With Potato Dextrose Agar"

This study explores the feasibility of utilizing locally available cereal grains as cost-effective alternatives to Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) for fungal cultivation. Parboiled rice and wheat, rich in carbohydrates and essential nutrients, were used to develop Rice Dextrose Agar (RDA) and Wheat Dextrose Agar (WDA). The growth performance of Aspergillus niger, Neurospora crassa, and Fusarium sp. was evaluated by measuring mycelial growth diameter on RDA, WDA, and PDA (control). Cereal-based media were tested at reduced concentrations (2.9 g and 1.9 g per 100 mL), while PDA was consistently maintained at 3.9 g per 100 mL throughout the experiment as a control. Aspergillus niger exhibited optimal growth on WDA across all concentrations. Neurospora crassa rapidly colonized all media, covering the full petri dish within 24 hours. For Fusarium sp., PDA showed the highest growth, though RDA and WDA performed comparably with slight reductions in mycelial diameter. These findings suggest that cereal grains can serve as viable, affordable alternatives to PDA, providing a sustainable solution for microbiological research and large-scale fungal applications.