Influence of pH, agitation speed, and temperature on growth of fungi isolated from Koya, Iraq

Abstract

Fungi are intensely affected by physical and physicochemical factors that affect their growth rate. The present study investigates the influence of different pH values, agitation speeds, and temperature ranges (ºC) on fungi growth rates by measuring their fresh and dry weight. Several fungi were isolated from different sites of Koya city, Iraq. After being cultured in a potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium, their measurements were taken. The results of the study showed growth of isolated fungi in all factors. Furthermore, the maximum growth is determined at pH 6, agitation speed of 70 ​rpm, and 25 ​°C. The p-value was calculated based on the correlation between the “fresh” and “dry” values for each of the fungi based on the effect of varying pH levels, agitation speeds, and temperatures (p ​= ​0.028277, 0.00065, and 0.016806, respectively). The statistical analysis revealed that there was statistically significant (p ​> ​0.05) difference in fungi growth rates based on the variations in pH, agitation speeds, and temperature. The study concluded that different growth circumstances had an impact on biomass growth in different species of fungi and optimal growth was shown by Fusarium begonia, Mucor spp, and Cladosporium spp.