Statistical and Cellular Analysis of Rhizopus stolonifer Growth as
Affected by Potassium Sorbate Concentration
Abstract
Known as black bread mold, R. stolonifer is a fungus commonly found in
contaminated food products such as meat, preserved, and/or baked goods.
Potassium sorbate is a common food preservative used to prevent fungi,
mold, and mycotoxin growth by damaging the cell membrane or altering
proteins in the cell. Based on background research on potassium sorbate
growth prevention, it was hypothesized that a 25% concentration of
potassium sorbate will most efficiently prevent R. stolonifer growth
compared to lower concentrations. R. stolonifer was grown on potato
dextrose agar with eight levels of potassium sorbate concentrations.
During a two week period, fungal growth was observed, photographed, and
the height and width of each sample were recorded. At the end of two
weeks, the fungi were stained using lactophenol cotton blue dye and
observed under a microscope. Qualitative observation at the cellular
level showed healthy R. stolonifer solely in the control group (see
Figure 1). When comparing the fungi samples across the 5% and 30%
concentration groups, large areas of dead mass dominated their cellular
makeup. At the end of two weeks, the 1% concentration sample group had
an observed increase of 1.383 cm2 in total area, a significant decrease
compared to the control group. Between the 5% and 30% concentration
sample groups, there were minor changes in total area with no change
exceeding 0.125 cm2. Between the 1% and 5% experimental groups, there
was a significant decrease in fungal area growth, and a similarly large
decrease between the 10% and 15% concentration fungi samples. Thus, it
can be concluded that it is unnecessary to exceed a 1% concentration of
potassium sorbate to prevent fungal growth.