ABSTRACT Gari extract agar was prepared by adding 3.50 g agar powder to 250 ml water extract of Gari; Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) was prepared as control according to manufacturer’s procedure. Aliquot of appropriate dilutions of 1 gram of agricultural soil was inoculated onto SDA and Gari extract agar by pour plate technique and spread plate technique. After 2 days and 4 days of inoculation, the growths of molds were examined. Fungal colonies on Gari extract agar were very healthy and compared favourably with fungal colonies on Sabouraud dextrose agar which is a conventional media. Gari extract agar produced healthy molds as determined by diameter of growth. Furthermore, conventional media (SDA) supported the growth of contaminant bacteria while Gari extract agar inhibited the growth of contaminant bacteria and promoted that of fungi. Gari can be successfully grown in poor soils with low labour requirement, low capital and ease of cultivation. Gari extract agar can now be used successfully for quantitative count of molds. The result of this study will go a long way in solving the problem of high price of conventional media used as culture media for mycological studies.
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