Potato Dextrose Agar Medium (ChP) - BioReagent

Cat. No.: P1528352

GRADE & PURITY BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Vue d’ensemble

For cultivation of Aspergillus niger

Specifications

Spécifications et pureté

BioReagent

Conditions de stockage de stockage

Room temperature

Expédié en

Normal

Grade

BioReagent

Product Line

Produits biologiques

Application Protocols

Item-specific, validated protocols are not provided. The following is general, literature-based guidance for preparing and using PDA; adapt to your SOPs and the product’s CoA/Spec Sheet.

• Typical preparation (literature example; not item-specific)

  • Weigh dehydrated PDA according to the manufacturer’s recommended grams per liter (commonly cited values around 39 g/L for many commercial PDA formulations; confirm on CoA/label for this item).
  • Suspend in purified water with stirring; heat to dissolve completely.
  • Autoclave at 121 °C for 15 min (liquids cycle). Cool to ~45–50 °C.
  • If needed, aseptically add filter-sterilized supplements (e.g., 100 mg/L chloramphenicol) to inhibit bacteria, as permitted by your method.
  • Pour plates (20–25 mL per 90 mm plate) or prepare slants. Allow to solidify; dry plates as needed to remove surface moisture.

• Quality control (literature)

  • Growth-promotion test with specified organisms (e.g., Candida albicans, Aspergillus brasiliensis) to verify recovery and morphology.
  • Record pH after sterilization; inspect for clarity and gel integrity.

• Use and incubation (literature)

  • Inoculate by streaking or spreading; incubate at organism-appropriate temperature (often 20–30 °C). Monitor daily for colony development, pigmentation, and sporulation.

Always defer to the product’s CoA/Spec Sheet and your validated SOPs for exact preparation mass, pH, and acceptance criteria.

Biological Roles

As a complex culture medium, PDA does not have a single biological role at the molecular level; instead, it provides a nutrient environment tailored to fungi and yeasts.

• Functional roles in microbiology (literature)

  • Carbon and energy source: Dextrose supplies readily metabolizable glucose, supporting biomass accumulation, sporulation, and metabolite production.
  • Growth factors and micronutrients: Potato infusion contributes amino acids, vitamins (e.g., B-group traces), and minerals that enhance growth and pigmentation of many molds.
  • Physical scaffold: Agar forms a non-nutritive, inert gel permitting colony isolation, radial growth measurement, and differential morphology assessment.

• Use cases in biology (literature)

  • Taxonomy and identification: PDA often accentuates conidiation and colony pigmentation, useful for morphological keys of genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium.
  • Ecology and environmental microbiology: Recovery and enumeration of fungi from air, soil, surfaces, and process water.
  • Industrial microbiology: Starter cultures and screening of strains for enzyme, organic acid, or secondary metabolite production prior to liquid culture scale-up.

Note: PDA composition is not optimized for bacterial growth; its lower pH and lack of peptone make it relatively selective for fungi, though bacteria may still grow unless inhibited (e.g., by antibiotic supplements).

Buffer Applications

This product is not a buffer system and is not typically used for pH buffering in biochemical assays.

• Context (literature)
  • PDA exhibits an acidic pH (typically ~5.6 after sterilization), which contributes to selectivity for fungi but does not constitute a defined buffering capacity.
  • For buffer preparation and pH control in enzymology or cell culture, use defined buffer systems (e.g., phosphate, citrate, HEPES) instead.

Refer to sections Biological Roles and Application Protocols for guidance relevant to PDA’s intended use in fungal cultivation.

Green Alternatives

PDA is intrinsically a water-based, low-hazard culture medium. Green chemistry considerations therefore focus on energy use, waste minimization, and renewable inputs rather than solvent substitution.

• Environmental profile (context)

  • Aqueous preparation: No organic solvents required; agar is derived from renewable biomass. Dextrose and potato infusion components are bio-based.
  • Biodegradability: Organic constituents are biodegradable; however, all inoculated materials must be sterilized before disposal to prevent release of viable organisms.

• Greener practice suggestions (literature)

  • Energy: Optimize autoclave loading and cycle selection (e.g., liquids cycle, 121 °C, minimum validated hold) to reduce energy per unit prepared while maintaining sterility assurance.
  • Reuse: Favor reusable glassware (media bottles, Petri dishes where validated) to reduce single-use plastics; validate cleaning/sterilization.
  • Scale-right: Prepare only what is needed to minimize expired plate waste; store plates sealed at 2–8 °C to extend usability.

• Alternatives and tradeoffs (context)

  • Malt Extract Agar (MEA) or Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) may be preferable for some taxa or test methods, but they are not inherently “greener.” Selection should be driven by performance and compendial alignment rather than environmental advantage.

No item-specific sustainability certifications are provided; consult CoA/Spec Sheet for any additional environmental or sourcing statements.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No therapeutic or clinical treatment claims apply. PDA is used in pharmaceutical and related industries strictly as a culture medium for quality control and research.

• Typical roles in regulated environments (literature/context)

  • Compendial testing: ChP-aligned PDA may be used for growth-promotion testing and fungal bioburden assays where specified by pharmacopeial or internal methods.
  • Environmental monitoring: Recovery of airborne and surface fungi in cleanrooms and controlled environments (settle plates, contact plates when prepared accordingly).
  • Raw material and finished-product testing: Detection/enumeration of yeasts and molds in non-sterile products, intermediates, and utilities.
  • Sterility assurance support: Positive control medium in method suitability studies involving antifungal agents (where appropriate).

• Practical considerations

  • Documentation: Maintain certificates of analysis (CoA) demonstrating ChP alignment, GPT results, and lot traceability.
  • Method alignment: Use the medium as specified in validated SOPs; do not substitute across media types (PDA vs SDA/MEA) without revalidation, as recovery and selectivity can differ.

Item-specific pharmacopeial certification details and acceptance criteria are not specified for this product entry; consult the CoA/Spec Sheet and your quality unit for approval status.

Physical Properties

Because PDA is a dehydrated, undefined mixture, fixed physicochemical constants are not item-specific.

• Item-specific specs

  • Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular weight, formula, refractive index, logP, pKa: Not applicable to mixtures.

• Typical properties of prepared PDA (literature; not item-specific)

  • Form before reconstitution: free-flowing, hygroscopic powder or granules.
  • Solubility: Dispersible in water; agar requires heating to near boiling to dissolve fully; forms gel on cooling (~32–42 °C gelation, ~85–95 °C melting depending on agar composition).
  • pH of prepared medium: typically ~5.6 ± 0.2 at 25 °C after sterilization (literature, ChP/USP-style monographs).
  • Gel strength: dependent on agar content; typically supports firm surface for streaking and colony isolation at standard dehydrated composition.
  • Color: light to tan in dehydrated form; pale to amber when prepared (literature).

• Stability considerations (literature)

  • Hygroscopic: absorbs moisture; clumping may occur if exposed to humidity.
  • Prepared plates/slants: stable for several weeks at 2–8 °C if sealed to minimize dehydration and contamination.

Important: Exact numeric specifications (e.g., moisture %, gel strength, pH tolerance window) for this specific item are not provided here. For authoritative values and QC acceptance ranges, consult the product’s CoA/Spec Sheet and the SDS.

Quality and Grades

• Item-specific grade

  • BioReagent: Indicates suitability for biological and microbiological applications, emphasizing low levels of inhibitory impurities and consistent performance in culture workflows.
  • ChP designation: The medium is aligned with Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) requirements for Potato Dextrose Agar. In practice, this implies composition and performance conform to pharmacopeial monographs (e.g., pH after sterilization, clarity, gel firmness, and growth-promotion testing with specified fungi/yeasts). Always confirm the exact revision and acceptance criteria on the CoA/Spec Sheet.

• What this means in the lab

  • Performance consistency: Batch-to-batch reproducibility in colony morphology, sporulation, and enumeration.
  • Low inhibitor burden: Minimizes compounds that could suppress fungal growth, enhancing sensitivity in environmental monitoring and bioburden assays.
  • Documentation: ChP alignment simplifies regulatory documentation for QC laboratories operating to pharmacopeial standards in China.

• Stabilizers and additives

  • No item-specific stabilizers are listed. Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

• Recommended verification

  • Conduct growth-promotion testing (GPT) per pharmacopeial guidance using relevant challenge organisms (e.g., Candida albicans, Aspergillus spp.) to verify performance in your facility.
  • Record pH after sterilization and gel firmness as part of incoming QC. Use water quality and sterilization conditions consistent with your SOPs to ensure compliance.

Reaction and Applications

Chemical reaction use is not applicable. As a microbiological medium, the relevant “applications” concern cultivation and analysis of fungi and yeasts.

• Microbiological applications (literature)

  • Cultivation and isolation of filamentous fungi and yeasts from environmental, food, beverage, agricultural, and industrial samples.
  • Enumeration of fungal bioburden via spread/ pour plates; supports typical colony morphologies for counting and identification.
  • Enhanced sporulation and pigment expression for many molds, facilitating morphological assessment.
  • Antibiotic susceptibility screening of fungal isolates (method-dependent) or as a basal medium for overlay/assay methods.
  • Mycotoxin studies: growth substrate for toxin-producing strains prior to extraction and analysis (HPLC/LC-MS), following biosafety protocols.

• Practical tips (literature)

  • Aseptic technique: Pre-warm plates to minimize condensation; flame sterilize spreaders; include negative controls.
  • Supplements: Antibiotics (e.g., chloramphenicol) can be added post-autoclave to suppress bacterial contaminants when permitted by method.
  • Incubation: Many fungi grow well at 20–30 °C; yeasts often at 25–30 °C. Select temperature and duration per organism and method.

Item-specific tested applications are not provided in the product data; verify and validate within your SOPs and regulatory framework (ChP, USP, ISO).

Reaction Conditions

Classical chemical reaction conditions are not relevant. The operational conditions below relate to preparation and sterilization of PDA for microbiology (literature; general guidance, not item-specific specifications):

• Reconstitution and dissolution

  • Disperse dehydrated medium in purified water with stirring; heat to near boiling to fully dissolve agar.

• Sterilization

  • Autoclave using a validated liquids cycle (commonly 121 °C for 15 minutes at 15 psi) in suitable containers with loose caps or vented closures to allow steam penetration.

• Plate pouring and setting

  • Cool sterilized medium to ~45–50 °C before adding heat-labile supplements (e.g., antibiotics) and pouring plates to minimize condensation and thermal degradation.
  • Allow plates to solidify on a level surface; dry as needed in a laminar flow hood before storage/use.

• Incubation (use-dependent)

  • Many molds: 20–25 °C; yeasts: 25–30 °C; durations 48 h to 7+ days depending on organism and objective (enumeration vs morphology).

Note: Exact amounts of dehydrated medium per liter, target pH, and hold times must follow your validated method or the product’s CoA/Spec Sheet. The above are literature norms provided for context only.

Safety and Handling

• GHS classification, signal word, pictograms, H-statements: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS for authoritative safety information.

• General laboratory safety (good practice)

  • PPE: lab coat, safety glasses, and appropriate gloves when handling powder and hot liquids.
  • Dust management: Avoid dust generation and inhalation; handle in well-ventilated area or use a fume hood when weighing.
  • Thermal hazards: During preparation, medium is heated to dissolve agar; hot liquids and steam can cause burns. Use heat-resistant gloves and caution when pouring plates.
  • Microbiological risk: Once prepared and inoculated, vessels contain viable microorganisms. Follow biosafety level (BSL) practices appropriate to the organism, employ aseptic technique, and autoclave all waste before disposal.

• Incompatibilities and storage cautions (literature)

  • Keep container tightly closed, dry, and protected from humidity to prevent clumping and degradation.
  • Avoid contact with strong oxidizers that may degrade organic constituents.

• First-aid overview (general guidance; defer to SDS)

  • Inhalation of dust: Move to fresh air; seek medical attention if irritation persists.
  • Skin/eye contact: Rinse with water; remove contaminated clothing. For hot medium burns, cool affected area with water and seek medical attention.
  • Ingestion: Rinse mouth; seek medical advice as needed.

Always consult the product SDS and institutional biosafety procedures for definitive guidance.

Solvent Selection

This product is designed to be reconstituted in water; organic solvent selection is not applicable.

• Practical guidance for reconstitution (literature)

  • Water quality: Use purified water suitable for microbiological media (e.g., ASTM Type I/II or equivalent). High ionic loads, chlorine, or organics in tap water can inhibit growth or alter gelation.
  • Dissolution: Add dehydrated medium gradually to cold or room-temperature water with stirring, then heat to near boiling to fully dissolve agar before sterilization.
  • pH: Verify the pH of the medium after sterilization; adjust only if specified by your method. Acidic pH (~5.6) is typical for selective growth of fungi.

• Comparison with alternatives (context)

  • PDA vs Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA): PDA often promotes sporulation and pigmentation in molds; SDA is more peptone-rich and slightly more selective for yeasts at lower pH.
  • PDA vs Malt Extract Agar (MEA): MEA favors many molds with maltose-rich carbon; PDA’s potato infusion may better support some pigment/sporulation traits.

For this item, any specific solvent or reconstitution instructions beyond “water” are not specified; consult the CoA/Spec Sheet for exact preparation parameters required by the ChP designation.

Storage and Reconstitution

• Storage (item-specific)

  • Storage conditions: Room temperature (per product data).
  • Shipped: Normal conditions (per product data).
  • Recommendations: Keep container tightly sealed in a cool, dry place. Protect from humidity and excessive heat. Avoid prolonged exposure to light and moisture.

• Reconstitution

  • Exact reconstitution mass (g/L), target pH, and any supplements: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • General note: Reconstitute with purified water and sterilize by autoclaving under validated conditions before use. If preparing plates, store finished plates inverted at 2–8 °C in sealed sleeves to minimize dehydration; label with lot and expiry per SOP.

• Stability

  • Dehydrated medium: Typically stable for the labeled shelf life when stored dry at room temperature; check lot-specific expiry on the label/CoA.
  • Prepared medium: Use within the timeframe defined by your SOPs; monitor for contamination, dehydration, or pH drift.

For authoritative, lot-specific instructions and quality attributes, consult the product CoA/Spec Sheet and SDS. Product is for research use only.

Structure and Identity

Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) Medium (ChP) is a complex, undefined dehydrated culture medium for fungi and yeasts. It is a mixture rather than a single compound, composed typically of potato infusion (carbohydrate- and nutrient-rich extract), dextrose (glucose), and agar (a polysaccharide gelling agent derived from seaweed).

• Item-specific identifiers

  • SKU: P1528352
  • Grade: BioReagent; ChP indicates compliance with Chinese Pharmacopoeia requirements for this medium (see Quality & Grades).
  • Molecular formula: Not applicable to mixtures; not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular weight: Not applicable to mixtures; not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • CAS, CID, InChIKey, SMILES: Not applicable to the composite medium.

• Structural features (general description; literature)

  • Potato infusion: heterogeneous mixture of low–molecular-weight carbohydrates, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins extracted from potatoes.
  • Dextrose: D-glucose, a fermentable monosaccharide that supports rapid fungal growth and sporulation.
  • Agar: high–molecular-weight galactose-based polysaccharide (agarose + agaropectin) responsible for thermoreversible gelation; forms a porous, inert gel matrix.

• 2D/functional description (literature)

  • The medium, when prepared in water and sterilized, forms a clear-to-opaque, firm gel plate or slant. Nutrients are uniformly dispersed within an inert agar network; dextrose provides a readily available carbon source while potato components provide nitrogen traces, micronutrients, and growth factors.

Notes: Being a complex medium, it has no single defined chemical structure. Analytical identity is established by composition, performance testing (growth promotion), and compliance with pharmacopeial specifications (ChP).

Synthetic Utility

Not applicable. Potato Dextrose Agar is a complex culture medium, not a discrete reagent or building block for chemical synthesis.

• Context (literature)
  • As an inert gel matrix with nutrients, PDA is used for biological cultivation, not for promoting or participating in organic reactions.
  • For polymer gel applications in chemistry (e.g., electrophoresis), specialized media such as polyacrylamide or agarose gels are used instead.

Refer to Application Protocols for microbiological preparation and use.

Target Specificity

Not applicable. This product is not a biological affinity reagent (e.g., antibody, ligand, or probe) and has no defined target specificity.

• Context
  • PDA supports a broad range of fungi and yeasts; relative selectivity derives from medium composition and pH rather than molecular recognition of a specific target.

Foire aux questions

How should this product be stored?

Store at room temperature.