ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2010
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2010 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Media studies on Myrothecium roridum Tode: A potential biocontrol agent for water hyacinth
Wahab Oluwanisola Okunowo1*, George Olabode Gbenle1, Akinniyi Adediran Osuntoki1 and Adedotun Adeyinka Adekunle2
1Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.
2Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Accepted 10 May, 2010
Abstract
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a noxious aquatic weed in Nigeria and many parts of the world. A potential mycoherbicidal agent for the control has been identified recently as Myrothecium roridum Tode. The best media for in-vitro propagation was investigated using seven culture media; potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar (MEA), potato sucrose agar (PSA), sabouraud agar (SA), potato carrot agar (PCA), Czapek-Dox agar (ZA) and a semi artificial diet, which included the material from the fungal host’s plant (WHA). The effect of nitrogen sources (ammonium chloride, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sodium glutamate and glutamine) and pH on the growth of the fungus was also determined. The mycelia growth was assessed by diameter measurement on agar plates and the conidial yield was measured with a Neubauer hemocytometer slide. The mycelia growth was maximum on PSA and minimum on ZA. The conidial yield was highest on MEA. The mycelia growth and spore concentration of the fungus were highest on sodium glutamate and glutamine respectively, when used as nitrogen sources. The optimal growth pH was 5.5.
Key words: Media, Mycoherbicide, Myrothecium roridum Tode, nitrogen sources.