Screening of Culture Media for Growth and Pigment Production by Fusarium sp.

The present study was aimed to select a suitable medium for enhanced pigment production by Fusarium sp. The fungus was isolated from air by plate exposure method using potato dextrose agar media. Different types of solid and liquid media were screened for growth and pigment production using Fusarium sp. It was observed that media components influenced growth as well as pigment production. Highest growth rate, after 6 days of incubation, was obtained in CYEA followed by PDA and MEA. Maximum pigment on agar media was seen in CYEA and PDA. In broth medium, crude pigment was estimated by spectral analysis in different wavelengths ranging from 380nm to 720nm. PDB and SDB were found to yield pigment having maximum red and orange components while in Lin’s broth media pigment produced by Fusarium sp. consisted primarily of yellow component. The results therefore indicate that growth and pigment production by the fungus is dependent on the media components.