I have to isolate Fusarium oxysporum. I have found all the recipes containing PCNB (Pentachloronitrobenzene). Would any one have explanation of this PCNB? is there any good selective medium for the same without PCNB?
pentachloronitrobenzene is a registered fungicide (formally derived from nitrobenzene) used extensively in agricultural crops and not known to cause illness but it is of environmental concern because of its capacity to enter the human food chain and cause tissue residues in all species; abbreviated PCNB
PCNB being a fungicide inhibit the growth of a number of soil born fungi including zygomycetes, but permit slow growth of some as Fusarium. Yes, there are equally good other media are available for the isolation.
PCNB inhibit growth of zygomycetes and Pythium. It is added to medium for isolating Phytophthora from environment sample. It therefore is not inhibiting on Phytophthora species. We add hymexazol to our media used to isolate Phytophthora, it also checks zygomycetes like Mortiella.
Hi: If you isolate the fungus from plant tissue, you not needed to add PCNB to medium, just use PDA with antibiotics that inhibited bacterial contaminations.