Potato Dextrose Agar H
Also known as：PDA · Potato Glucose Agar · PGA · Potato Infusion Agar
Potato Dextrose Agar H is used for the cultivation and enumeration of yeasts and molds. It is widely applied in food, dairy, and cosmetic microbiological testing.
- Category
- Dehydrated Culture Media
- Dissolve per litre
- 39 g
- Pack sizes
- 500 g · 5 kg · 25 kg
- Certifications
- Halal
- Standard methods
- FDA BAM
Data updated：2026-11-06
Brand cross-reference：BD Difco Potato Dextrose Agar · Oxoid Potato Dextrose Agar · Merck Potato Dextrose Agar（FDA BAM） Brand cross-reference
Overview
Potato Dextrose Agar H (PDA) is the most widely used medium for yeasts and moulds, for yeast and mould counts in food, dairy, cosmetic and environmental samples, and for maintaining strains and observing sporulation. Potato-derived carbohydrates and a high level of glucose promote mycelial growth and spore formation, making colony morphology and pigmentation easy to recognise. For food testing, tartaric acid can be added per the method to lower the pH to 3.5 and suppress bacteria. Halal-certified and made from food-grade raw materials.
Principle
Potato Dextrose Agar H is a general-purpose medium for the cultivation and enumeration of yeasts and moulds.¹ Potato peptone provides nitrogen, peptides, carbohydrates, and the natural growth factors derived from potato, while dextrose serves as the carbon and energy source and supports luxuriant fungal growth and sporulation. Agar acts as the solidifying agent. The naturally acidic reaction of the medium favours fungi over most bacteria. Where greater selectivity is required, the medium may be acidified to pH 3.5 with sterile tartaric acid to suppress bacterial growth; because acid hydrolyses the agar, the acidified medium must not be reheated, as it will fail to solidify.² The medium is also widely used for the sporulation and morphological characterisation of moulds and for the maintenance of fungal stock cultures.³
Choosing a medium for yeasts and moulds
Potato Dextrose Agar and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar are the two general-purpose media most often used for yeasts and moulds. The former promotes mycelial growth and sporulation for morphological work; the latter's low pH itself suppresses bacteria. Malt-based media suit the cultivation and maintenance of yeasts, while the Czapek range is used for the taxonomy of filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus. Broths are for propagation, agars for enumeration and isolation.
Directions
Suspend 39 g of powder in 1 L of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Avoid overheating. Cool to 45-50°C. For the selective isolation of fungi, adjust the cooled medium to pH 3.5 with sterile 10% tartaric acid; do not reheat the medium after acidification. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
Cultural response
| Test organism | ATCC | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Candida albicans | 10231 | Good |
| Saccharomyces cerevisiae | 9763 | Good |
| Trichophyton mentagrophytes | 9553 | Good |
| Aspergillus brasiliensis (niger) | 16404 | Growth |
Product highlights
- Halal certified, suitable for the Malaysian, Indonesian, and Middle Eastern markets
- Manufactured to the standard formulation, 39 g per litre
- Performance verified against standard control strains before release (Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Aspergillus brasiliensis (niger))
- Available in 500 g / 5 kg / 25 kg, from laboratory to industrial scale
- COA, specification sheet, and technical data sheet available; samples on request
- Manufactured in Taiwan with reliable supply
FDA BAM methods
This product corresponds to a medium used in the chapters of the US FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM), the reference methods for FDA regulatory testing. Follow the current online edition of each chapter.
- FDA BAM Chapter 18: Yeasts, Molds, and MycotoxinsBAM Chapter 18Count plateNamed in the method as：Potato dextrose agar (PDA)
BAM specifies methods and media formulations; it does not certify brands. Add supplements as the chapter requires, and verify media against reference strains under your quality system.
Frequently asked questions
01Does this medium meet FDA BAM methods?
BAM specifies methods and formulations, not brands. This product corresponds to a medium used in: FDA BAM Chapter 18: Yeasts, Molds, and Mycotoxins（BAM Chapter 18）: Count plate. It is manufactured to the standard formulation and ships with a COA per batch; add supplements as the chapter requires and follow the current online edition.
02Do I need to suppress bacterial growth in fungal testing?
It depends on the sample. For foods or environmental samples with high bacterial loads, the pH is usually lowered or antibiotics are added to suppress bacteria. Follow the requirements of your chosen method; we are happy to advise.
03How much powder per litre?
Use 39 g per litre of deionised water; preparation and sterilisation conditions are given on the specification sheet.
04Which organisms is it suitable for?
Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Aspergillus brasiliensis (niger). See the cultural response table and the specification sheet.
05What are the equivalent brand products and standard methods?
Cross-reference: BD Difco Potato Dextrose Agar, Oxoid Potato Dextrose Agar, Merck Potato Dextrose Agar. Standard methods: FDA BAM. Formulations may differ slightly between makers; refer to the specification sheet.
06How is this product prepared?
Suspend 39 g of powder in 1 L of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Avoid overheating. Cool to 45-50°C. For the selective isolation of fungi, adjust the cooled medium to pH 3.5 with sterile 10% tartaric acid; do not reheat the medium after acidification. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
07How do I request a bulk quotation, and can you provide a COA?
Yes. This product is available in 500 g, 5 kg, 25 kg. Tell us your application and volume when requesting a quotation; we reply within one working day and can supply the COA, specification sheet, and technical data sheet.
Used in these applications
- Yeast and filamentous fungal fermentationCultivation and maintenance of brewer's yeast, koji, Monascus, and enzyme-producing fungi
- Yeast and mould countFungal testing of food, dairy, and cosmetics
- Cleanroom and ultrapure water microbial monitoring: settle plates, surfaces and water systemsStandard media for ISO 14698, USP <1231> and USP <61> monitoring
Used in published research and patents
- Spatial microbiome and synthetic community analyses reveal Trinickia sclerotiorum sp. nov. promotes sclerotia mortality of Sclerotinia sclerotiorumThe ISME Journal 2026 · National Taiwan UniversityPotato Dextrose Agar used to culture Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and induce sclerotia; Tryptic Soy Agar used to isolate soil bacteria.
- Comparative genomics and transcriptomics identify Rhizoctonia solani AG-7 cytochrome P450 gene RsCYP-1 for pencycuron resistanceiScience 2025 · National Taiwan UniversityPotato Dextrose Agar used to culture and maintain Rhizoctonia solani and Monilinia fructicola and for fungicide sensitivity tests.
- Publications
Further reading
- FDA BAM Culture Media Cross-Reference: Which Media Each BAM Chapter Uses and the STBIO EquivalentAerobic plate count, coliforms and E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio, Clostridium perfringens, yeasts and moulds and Cronobacter: the media named in each FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual chapter, matched to Taiwan-made dehydrated media for US laboratories qualifying a second source.
- Which Culture Media Do Taiwan FDA Food Microbiology Methods Specify? Cross-Reference for 21 Announced MethodsAerobic plate count, coliforms, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and moulds, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium perfringens and Cronobacter: the media named in each Taiwan FDA (TFDA) announced method, matched to Taiwan-made products.
References
- 1. United States Pharmacopeia, current edition. Potato Dextrose Agar, USP-NF, Rockville, MD.
- 2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Bacteriological Analytical Manual, Chapter 18, Yeasts, Moulds and Mycotoxins.
- 3. Atlas R. M., 2010. Handbook of Microbiological Media, 4th Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton.