INTRODUCTION

Fungi consist of yeasts and molds which have been classified to sub-nature based on mycelia
septation and phyla according to its ability to produce spores and types of sexual spores
produced. Both yeasts and molds spoil the food, thus it is important to control the sanitary and
safety of foods although it had been cooked. Some fungi may secrete toxin which is mycotoxin
that hardly damaged even in the extreme condition. Yeasts are unicellular fungi while molds are
larger and easily detected on the food. This is because molds grow as a filament (mycelia)
structure. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a type of yeast that can be used in the baking process.
Although yeasts and molds may hazardous to human body, but still there are some advantages
that can be obtained from them. There are several ways to enumerate and detect the yeasts and
molds. Several media are used such as acidified Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Dichloran Rose
Bengal Chloramphenicol Agar (DRBCA) and Yeasts and Molds Agar (YMA). Other than
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, other molds which are Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus brasiliensis
also can be enumerate on those agar.
Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) is a general purpose basal medium for the identification, cultivation
and enumeration of yeast and molds in foods and dairy products. It may also be used for the
cultivation of yeasts and molds from clinical specimens. Since it stimulates speculation and
pigmentation, it also aids for cultivating and differentiating pathogenic and non-pathogenic
fungi.

PDA is also useful for maintaining stock cultures of certain dermatophytes. Certain antibiotics or
acids like Chloramphenicol, Tartaric Acids and Chlortetracycline can be added as selective
agents. PDA with Tartaric Acids is recommended for the microbial examination of food and
dairy products. Addition of Chlortetracycline is recommended for the microbial enumeration of
yeasts and mold from cosmetics. PDA with Chloramphenicol is recommended for the selective
cultivation of fungi from mixed samples.
Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) contains dextrose as a carbohydrate source which serves as a
growth stimulant and potato infusion that provides a nutrient base for luxuriant growth of most
fungi. Agar is added as the solidifying agent. A specified amount of sterile tartaric acid (10%)
may be incorporated to lower the pH of the medium to 3.5 so that bacterial growth is inhibited.
Care should be taken not to reheat the acidified medium; heating in the acid state will hydrolyze
the agar which can render the agar unable to solidify.

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this experiment are;
1. To familiarize with the enumeration techniques employed for yeasts and molds
2. To familiarize with the characteristics of yeasts and molds
3. To determine yeasts and molds count on food products.

RESULTS
MICROORGANISMS: BACTERIA
Number of Colonies
10
10
10
104

Dilution
10

factor
Plate 1
Plate 2

TNTC
TNTC

TNTC
TNTC

TNTC
TNTC

TNTC
TNTC

42
48

Average
Amount

45
4.5x

of CFUs

105

106

8
6

42
0

7
7
7x 10

107

per ml

4.5 x 10

The number of CFUs per ml of sample = the number of colonies (30-300 plate) x The
dilution factor of the plate counted x 1/amount of sample in the plate
0.1 ml = Amount of sample in the plate
45 = Number of colonies
4

10

= Dilution factor of plate counted

4.5x 10

= Number of CFUs per ml

0.1ml = Amount of sample in the plate

7 = Number of colonies
5

10

= Dilution factor of plate counted

7
7x 10 = Number of CFUs per ml

0.1ml = Amount of sample in the plate

21 = Number of colonies

21
2.1x
109

10

= Dilution factor of plate counted

9

2.1x 10

2.1 x 109
7
4.5 x 10

= Number of CFUs per ml

= 46.67

Highest number of cells from the countable plate is more than two times from the lowest
number of cells, take the lowest CFUs per ml as CFU.