International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences
ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 2 Number 9 (2013) pp. 39-44
Screening and Isolation of organic acid producers from samples of diverse habitats
Zarina Shaikh1* and Parwez Qureshi2
1Department of Microbiology (Post Graduate), Maulana Azad College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Aurangabad (Maharashtra), India 2Department of Microbiology, College of Science (Girls), Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia *Corresponding author e-mail: skzarina1@gmail.com, qureshi_pervez@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Fungal cultures are the most preferred ones for production of organic acids as they have the ability to utilise the wide variety of substrates like molasses, starch (wheat, corn, potato), lignocellulose (corn cobs, woody materials). Fungal cultures were isolated from diverse habitats for the present study. Samples were collected from 4 different diverse habitats which include the decaying fruit, vegetables and soil. 47 fungal cultures were isolated on Rose Bengal agar and potato dextrose agar by dilution plate method. The cultures were further checked for their potential to produce organic acid and their acid unitage value was calculated on modified mineral salt agar incorporated bromocresol green. Seven cultures showed the potential to produce organic acid which was concluded from the results of the obtained acid unitage value.
Keywords
Fungal cultures; organic acid; acid unitage value; mineral salt agar; dilution plate method.