Performance of Low-Cost Agar from Gracilaria salicornia on Tissue Culture of Pleurotus HK-37
Table 1
Physicochemical characteristics of 1.5% (w/v) agar (local and standard), production cost, and mycelia growth rate (mm/day) of Pleurotus HK-37 on PDA media at 27 ± 2°C (mean ± SD, n = 3).
SN
Form
Agar
Gel strength (g/cm2)
Sulfate content (%)
Gelling temp. (°C)
Melting temp. (°C)
Cost of agar per 500 g in USD
Mycelia growth rate (mm/day) of Pleurotus HK-37
1
Nontreated
Agar extracted at 120°C and 1 h
159.0 ± 2.5
2.14 ± 0.04
39.7
89.0
38.9
9.87 ± 1.44
2
Treated
Agar extracted at 10%, 0.5 h and 115°C
282.1 ± 5.4
0.76 ± 0.13
41.7
86.9
77.5
11.2 ± 1.15
3
Agar extracted at 20%, 2 h and 120°C
398.0 ± 10
0.43 ± 0.03
39.7
85.1
95.6
12.4 ± 1.50
4
Agar extracted at 30%, 2 h and 115°C
407.3 ± 9.3
0.32 ± 0.04
40.0
88.1
109.8
13.1 ± 1.60
5
Agar extracted at 30%, 2 h and 120°C
510.3 ± 16
0.29 ± 0.04
39.3
88.4
116.4
14.9 ± 0.85
6
Standard
Agar powder, bacteriological
613.8 ± 10
0.26 ± 0.02
36.0
85.4
178.7
15.4 ± 0.98
Equivalent cost in USD; the currency conversion rate as per 2017: 1 USD = 2240 TSh (Tanzanian shilling).
