Studies on the Proximate Contents and Potentials of Musa sapientum and Persea americana Fruits Peel as Media for the Growth of Medically Important Fungi

Aim: The present study was designed to formulate growth media for medically important fungi using banana and avocado fruits peel.

Methodology: The peels were obtained from fresh banana and avocado fruits and dried into crisps at 100oC using hot air oven, pulverised into powder using Hammer mill machine and sieved into fine powder using 1 mm sieve size. Pure isolates of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cladosporium sp. were obtained from the Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and used for the study. Two different media, Banana Peel Agar (BPA) and Avocado Peel Agar (APA) were formulated. 2 g of each fruit peel powder was introduced into separate conical flasks, 1g of agar powder was added as solidifying agent and varied glucose concentrations (20%, 10%, 5% and 0%) was used as nutrient (carbon source) supplement. The prepared media was sterilized by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. The test organisms were inoculated aseptically onto the formulated media and incubated for 3 days at 37oC. Fungal growth was visually observed. For comparative analysis, Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) was used as control.

Results: The formulated media supported the growth of all the test organisms, although at varying degrees. BPA showed more suitability than APA, with the growth of the test organisms on BPA favourably comparable to that on SDA. Proximate analysis of the fruit peels indicated that the moisture, ash, fat, crude fibre, crude protein and carbohydrate contents of avocado peel were 7.35%, 14.65%, 0.10%, 9.75%, 6.57% and 61.58% respectively and 5.80%, 6.00%, 0.45%, 5.35%, 10.95% and 71.45% respectively for banana peel.

Conclusion: Banana and avocado fruits peel can be utilized as alternative materials in the formulation of culture media for the in vitro cultivation of fungi for medical and research purposes.