V8 Juice Agar

Principle And Interpretation

Yeasts are unicellular, eukaryotic, budding cells that are generally round oval or elongate in shape (1). They multiply principally by the production of blastoconidia (buds) (1). Yeast colonies are moist and creamy or glabrous to membranous in texture and are considered opportunistic pathogens. Moulds are microscopic, plant-like organisms, composed of long filaments called hyphae. Both are widely distributed in soil, water and air. Cultivation of yeasts and moulds becomes important in fermentation studies where they are generally used as starter cultures (2). The vegetable juices provide the necessary trace ingredients required to stimulate fungal growth.

Yeast extract provides essential growth nutrients. L-Asparagine serves as the amino acid source and glucose as the carbohydrate source for the growth of yeasts and moulds. V-8 juice is blend of 8 vegetable juices, which supplies the trace ingredients to stimulate the growth of fungi. The acidic pH of the medium favors fungal growth and suppresses bacterial growth.