C.D.V agar

Introduction-

C.D.V Agar is a nutrient media prepared using Cicer arietinum (Bengal Gram), Daucus carota (Carrot) and Vigna radiata (Green Gram) by Mr. Vinay J. Rao and Mr. Keshava Murthy P. at Surana College, Bangalore under the guidance of their Botany lecturers, Prof. B.R Chandrashekarappa [H.O.D- Dept. Of Botany] and Mrs. Sharada H.C and with the aid of their classmates and batch mates from Vijaya College, Bangalore. This medium was tried only on E. coli. Attempts will be made to try this on other organisms too. This media has been prepared in order to counter the discomfort of using materials such as peptone, beef extract and yeast extract. This medium must have more importance than nutrient agar, as peptone and yeast extract become semi solid on long time exposure to air, while beef extract solidifies completely. Also, seeds of Bengal Gram and Green Gram, and the root of Carrot will undoubtedly work out to be more cost efficient than peptone, beef extract and yeast extract, and these are guaranteed to be fresh, as they have to be used immediately.

Abstract-

Just like higher organisms, lower organisms too depend on nutrition for their survival. As a result, many microbiologists have proposed various sources of nutrition for proper microbial growth. Most of the nutrient media consist of animal products, which is considered unethical amongst many. Here, an attempt has been made to substitute animal products by some plant products, while compensating the biochemicals involved. The medium prepared made use of Bengal Gram, Green Gram and Carrot in the same proportions as Beef Extract, Peptone and Yeast Extract respectively. The medium was prepared in two sets; one was autoclaved before pouring, while the other was heated to around 60⁰c to conserve the proteins, which might have denatured at a higher temperature. The results obtained were very satisfactory; solitary colonies were observed in the plates with the autoclaved agar, while the heated agar gave a larger surface area of E. coli.

Discussion-

The above-mentioned plants were taken for this experiment due to the biochemical contents of theirs and the biochemical contents of the components of nutrient Agar. Chick pea replaces peptone; for protein source, green gram replaces beef extract; for protein source and carrot replaces yeast extract; for carbohydrate source. All these plants contain proteins and carbohydrates, along with others essential biochemicals in sufficient amounts.

Presented At-

TEQIP II Sponsored National Conference, organized by Dept. Of Biotechnology, PES Institute Of Technology, Bangalore on 12th-13th Sept 2013.