Authors : Ukpong, S. E.; Magnus, O. C.; Okoye, A. C.; Okeke, N. A.; Mini, P. U.

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 5 - May

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/58dp2crn

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26May1193

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Abstract : Investigation on the use of cassava peels as potential microbial growth media was carried out, using standard microbiological procedures. The bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Enteobacter aerogenes and Leuconostoc mesenteroides and the fungi, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus fumigatus were isolated from fermented cassava peels, fermented pulp and from Outside environment (soil, palm-wine and stool samples). The measurement of their growth rate, generation time, radial growth, optical density and biomass production on un-supplemented cassava peel extract agar (UNSCPA) and broth (UNSCPB), supplemented cassava peel extract agar (SCPA) and broth (SCPB) was carried out using synthetic media Malt Extract Agar (MEA), malt extract broth (MEB), Nutrient agar (NA) and Nutrient broth (NB) as controls. Results of chemical analysis of the peels showed the following values 5.4%, 11.4%, 15.4%, 2.06%, and 65.74% for ash fraction, fiber fraction, lipid fraction, protein fraction, and carbohydrate fraction respectively. The protein fraction, of the peel was lower than that of the synthetic media (5%) which was then enriched with urea and sodium nitrate before inoculation. The cyanide level of the fresh cassava peels was reduced from 21.692mg/1 00g to 17.463mg/100g. Data analysis was carried using students t-test which revealed no significant difference (P>0.05) in radial growth between molds cultivated on SCPA, MEA, UNSCPA and SCPA, although growth rates on MEA (38.4cm) and SCPA (35.2cm) were better than on UNSCPA (24.5cm). Minor alterations in sizes of asexual spores and reproductive hyphae were also observed between molds grown on MEA than on SCPA. Optical density of the test bacteria and yeast after 24hours incubation statistically revealed significant differences (P<0.05) between the growth of test isolates on (UNSCPB, SCPB, MEB and NB). The results showed attenuated growth on the UNSCPB (0.966nm) but the growth on SCPB (1.114nm) aligned with the control (1.362nm). Cassava peels can, therefore, be used as a functional substitute for expensive synthetic media when integrated with nitrogenous sources.

Keywords : Cassava Peels, Potential Use, Microbiological Culture Media, Radial Growth, Biomass Production and Optical Density.

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