CALCIUM CARBONATE AGAR

Yeasts and Moulds form a very large group of microorganisms, with most coming from the air, water or soil. Yeasts are unicellular, eukaryotic, budding cells that are generally round oval or elongate in shape. They multiply principally by the production of blastoconidia (buds). Yeast colonies are moist and creamy or glabrous to membranous in texture and are considered opportunistic pathogens. Moulds are microscopic, plant-like organisms, composed of long filaments called hyphae. Calcium Carbonate Agar is differentiation agar recommended by Kurtzman and Fell for the identification of yeasts. Yeast extract provide the nitrogen, vitamins and amino acids for growth. Yeasts from the genus Dekkera (Brettanomyces) forms acetic acid and show a positive result. Sometimes the acid production is quite weak. Also some other yeasts like Candida species produce some citric acid and show a weak positive reaction.

for the di?erentiation of microorganisms especially yeasts based on the production of acid from glucose