Banana and Papaya Fruit Peelings Extract as an Alternative Culture Medium for Fungi

ENTRY NO. 1 WVSU ILS SCIENCE CONGRESS

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ABSTRACT

     Banana, mango and papaya are one of the top export fruits of the country. With the enormous amount of these fruits produced and consumed annually, huge amount of their fruit peels are thrown away as well. Since these fruit peels comprise about one-third of the fruits, alternative ways to maximize their potential must be sought.

     This group aimed to test the feasibility of extract from banana and papaya fruit peelings as an alternative culture media for fungi. Fungal growth on the experimental culture media prepared was tested against Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA.

     Qualitative analysis of the fungi’s growth was noted down one week after inoculation.

Two hundred grams of chopped fruit peels were boiled for thirty minutes with five hundred mL of distilled water. The extract was strained using cheesecloth then the amount gathered was measured. One clear gulaman bar was added to every five hundred mL extract and the mixture was boiled again for thirty minutes. The mixture was strained again before one hundred fifty mL was dispensed into each lapad bottle. PDA and CWA were also prepared as these served as the study’s control set-ups. Three replicates per treatment were prepared. All bottles were autoclaved for one hour then slanted.

     The results were left for one week for experiment purposes. The control set up started to react with our experiment.

List of tables.

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Table 1 (daily observation)

Day	Observation
Day 1	The experiment was stable as it was fringed
Day 2	Both the control set-up and the experiment hardened and are ready to manipulate.
Day 3	The control set-up was spotted with white spots and has a pungent smell. We concluded that it was ready to be applied with our experiment. Our experiment already hardened but it already has a liquid portion which can be concluded as the oil from the fruit peels.
Day 4-6	We left our experiment for progress purposes.
Day 7	The control set-up now has lesser spots and the odor was not that strong compared to before.

In our daily observation, we concluded that the ointment we produced from the fruit peels is effective medium culture in treating fungi.

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Table of contents:

A.  Chapter 1

Background of the Study                              5-6

a.  Research Framework                                  7

b.  Statement of the Problem                                  7

c.  Hypothesis                                        7-8

d.   Significance of the study                          8

e.  Scope and Limitations                              8

f.  Definition of terms                                     9-11

B.  Chapter 2

a.  Review of Related Terms                            12-17

C.  Chapter 3 (Methodology)

a.  Materials                                            18

b.  Description of treatments                            18

c.  Procedure                                          18-19

D.  Chapter 4

a.  Results and Findings                                 20

E.  Chapter 5

Conclusion and Recommendation                         21

Chapter I (Introduction)

I.          Background of Study

Banana, mango and papaya are one of the top export fruits of the country. With the enormous amount of these fruits produced and consumed annually, huge amount of their fruit peels are thrown away as well. Since these fruit peels comprise about one-third of the fruits, alternative ways to maximize their potential must be sought. These fruits and their peels extracts would be a great help in the society. This study was first performed by Charice Valerie M. Barcelona and John Bart Lovern C. Dumalag.

 Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world. Members of the genus Musa (part of the family Musaceae), they are considered to be derived from the wild species Musa acuminata (AA) and Musa balbisiana (BB). It is believed that there are almost 1000 varieties of bananas in the world, subdivided in 50 groups. The banana is not a tree but a high herb that can attain up to 15 metres of height. It is a perennial plant that replaces itself. Bananas do not grow from a seed but from a bulb or rizhome. Bananas are available all year long.  Bananas have very beneficial nutritional properties. They are a good source of vitamin C, B6 and A. Bananas have a high content of carbohydrates and fibre, while they are low in protein levels and fat free. They are also rich in potassium. Bananas are mainly consumed as a fresh fruit. Export bananas, mostly of the Cavendish variety, are also called "dessert" bananas. There is a multitude of recipes that include bananas as a basic element. However, in many developing countries, bananas of the different varieties are also a staple commodity, an essential component of many cooking dishes.

The papaya, Carica papaya L., is a member of the small family Caricaceae allied to the Passifloraceae. As a dual- or multi-purpose, early-bearing, space-conserving, herbaceous crop, it is widely acclaimed, despite its susceptibility to natural enemies.

Though the exact area of origin is unknown, the papaya is believed native to tropical America, perhaps in southern Mexico and neighboring Central America. It is recorded that seeds were taken to Panama and then the Dominican Republic before 1525 and cultivation spread to warm elevations throughout South and Central America, southern Mexico, the West Indies and Bahamas, and to Bermuda in 1616. Spaniards carried seeds to the Philippines about 1550 and the papaya travelled from there to Malacca and India. Seeds were sent from India to Naples in 1626. Now the papaya is familiar in nearly all tropical regions of the Old World and the Pacific Islands and has become naturalized in many areas. Seeds were probably brought to Florida from the Bahamas. Up to about 1959, the papaya was commonly grown in southern and central Florida in home gardens and on a small commercial scale. Thereafter, natural enemies seriously reduced the plantings. There was a similar decline in Puerto Rico about 10 years prior to the setback of the industry in Florida. While isolated plants and a few commercial plots may be fruitful and long-lived, plants in some fields may reach 5 or 6 ft, yield one picking of undersized and misshapen fruits and then are so affected by virus and other diseases that they must be destroyed.

Fungi constitute one of the life kingdoms. Fungi are eukaryotic (eu=true; karyon=nucleus) organisms with a cell wall like plants, but they do not have chlorophyll. Fungi are not able to ingest their food like animals do, nor can they manufacture their own food the way plants do. Instead, fungi feed by absorption of nutrients from the surrounding environment. They accomplish this by growing through and within the substrate on which they are feeding.

II.        Research Framework (Paradigm)

Input: Banana Papaya Potato agar

Process: Boiling autoclave

Output: Medicine Ointment Alternative Treatment

III.      Statement of the Problem

Problem: Banana and Papaya Fruit Peelings Extract as an Alternative Culture Medium for Fungi”

IV.        Hypothesis (Null + Alternative)

a.)        Both Banana and papaya peels extract would be an alternative culture medium for fungi.

b.)         Only the banana peel extract will be the alternative culture medium for fungi

c.)        Only the papaya peel extract would be an alternative culture medium for fungi

d.)        Both banana and papaya peels extract will not be an alternative culture medium for fungi.

V.           Significance of the study

  This group aimed to test the feasibility of extract from banana and papaya fruit peelings as an alternative culture media for fungi. The group also aimed to use ecological waste as the material for this study to create medicines for fungi in a lesser value.

VI.        Scope and Limitations

This study must be done within a laboratory. The place must be conducive for learning and experimenting. This experiment will be conducted for only a matter of days. This must only have three trials having three replications each. After three trials that the study is not proved, it will be considered failure.

VII.      Definition of terms

a.)        Banana

Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world. Members of the genus Musa (part of the family Musaceae), they are considered to be derived from the wild species Musa acuminata (AA) and Musa balbisiana (BB). It is believed that there are almost 1000 varieties of bananas in the world, subdivided in 50 groups.

b.)        Papaya

Papaya is a luscious fruit that has been taken for granted. Papaya fruits are good sources of Vitamin A, B and C. It is a familiar meat tenderizer because for clearing fruit juices, on fermenting liquors, pre-shrinking the quality of wool and as soap for washing clothes. Papaya possesses medicinal values.

c.)        fungi

Fungi constitute one of the life kingdoms. Fungi are eukaryotic (eu=true; karyon=nucleus) organisms with a cell wall like plants, but they do not have chlorophyll. Fungi are not able to ingest their food like animals do, nor can they manufacture their own food the way plants do. Instead, fungi feed by absorption of nutrients from the surrounding environment. They accomplish this by growing through and within the substrate on which they are feeding.

d.)        Extract

to withdraw (as a juice or fraction) by physical or chemical process b : to treat with a solvent so as to remove a soluble substance.

e.)        Feasibility

              capable of being used or dealt with successfully

f.)        Experiment

an operation or procedure carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law

g.)        Inoculation

the act or process or an instance of inoculating; especially : the introduction of a pathogen or antigen into a living organism to stimulate the production of antibodies

h.)        Potato dextrose agar

Potato dextrose agar (BAM Media M127^[1]) is common microbiological growth media made from potato infusion, and dextrose. Potato dextrose agar (abbreviated "PDA") is the most widely used medium for growing fungi and bacteria which attack living plants or decaying dead plant matter. Potato Dextrose Agar is a nutirent rich media that mycelia thrive upon.

i.)     Fruit peels

Peel, also known as rind or skin, is the outer protective layer of a fruit or vegetable which could be peeled off. The rind is usually the botanical exocarp, but the term exocarp does also include the hard cases of nuts, which are not named peels since they are not peeled off by hand or peeler, but rather shells because of their hardness..

j.)     autoclave

   A device for sterilizing implements using steam at high temperature.

    

    

Chapter 2 (review of related terms)

Banana

     Banana is one of the most common and widely grown fruit crops in the Philippines. It is also one of the country's major dollar earners, and has consistently ranked next to coconut oil and prawns in terms of value earnings during the last five years.

In 1991, banana topped local production among the other major fruits such as pineapple and mango, thus eating up more than one-third of the production pie.

Banana has various uses. The ripe fruit is pureed, candied, and preserved in various forms when not eaten fresh. Its extract is used in the manufacture of catsup, vinegar, and wine. The unripe fruit is powdered and chipped.

In rural areas, the young leaves are pounded to suppress bleeding and treat wounds. The leaves are also widely used as packing materials for fruits and vegetables in market centers. Banana fiber is manufactured into rope, sack, and mat. Sheets of paper and paper boards are also made from banana peel. Banana blossom is exported dried. Filipino housewives use it in special dishes.

As bananas ripen, the starch in the fruit turns to sugar. Therefore, the riper the banana the sweeter it will taste.

Banana plants are the largest plants on earth without a woody stem. They are actually giant herbs of the same family as lilies, orchids and palms.

Bananas are a good source of vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber.

VARIETIES:

Banana is native to Southeast Asia where the climate is warm and humid. Of the 57 banana cultivars, the following are the most common in the Philippines:

1. Saba
grows to as tall as 20 feet; fruit is angular; has thick peel that is green when unripe, yellow when ripe; flesh is white when ripe; gestation period is 15 to 16 months.

2. Lacatan
grows to a height of five to nine feet; fruit is round, seedless; has thick peel that has green when unripe, yellow-orange when ripe; gestation period is 14 to 15 months.

3. Latundan
grows from six to 10 feet tall; fruit is round; has thin peel that is green when unripe, yellow when ripe; flesh is white when ripe; gestation period is 12 months.

4. Bungulan
fruit is round, very sweet, seedless and easily rots; has thick peel that is green when unripe and remains green when ripe; flesh is white when ripe; gestation period is 12 months.

5. Cavendish
reaches five to 10 feet high; fruit is bigger than Bungulan; peel is green when unripe, yellow when ripe; flesh is yellow when ripe; export quality; gestation period is six to eight months.

Other varieties grown in the country include the Morado, Pitogo Los Banos, Senorita, Tindok, Gloria, Granda, and Tumok.

Papaya

     The papaya is regarded as a fair source of iron and calcium; a good source of vitamins A, B and G and an excellent source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The following figures represent the minimum and maximum levels of constituents as reported from Central America and Cuba.

Papaya is considered one of the most economically important and nutritious fruit in the Philippines. It ranks 6th in production and 5th in volume among fruit crops in the country. In the Philippines, papaya  is grown primarily by small-scale farmers, most of whom cultivate only 0.25 to 3 hectares. Up to 98% of papaya is consumed locally and provides significant amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to the local diet. The enzyme “papain” extracted from papaya is used in brewing, meat tenderizers, pharmaceuticals, and increasingly in beauty products and cosmetics.

     Generally, the fruit is melon-like, oval to nearly round, somewhat pyriform, or elongated club-shaped, 6 to 20 in (15-50 cm) long and 4 to 8 in (10-20 cm) thick; weighing up to 20 lbs (9 kg). Semi-wild (naturalized) plants bear miniature fruits 1 to 6 in (2.5-15 cm) long. The skin is waxy and thin but fairly tough. When the fruit is green and hard it is rich in white latex. As it ripens, it becomes light- or deep-yellow externally and the thick wall of succulent flesh becomes aromatic, yellow, orange or various shades of salmon or red. It is then juicy, sweetish and somewhat like a cantaloupe in flavor; in some types quite musky. Attached lightly to the wall by soft, white, fibrous tissue, are usually numerous small, black, ovoid, corrugated, peppery seeds about 3/16 in (5 mm) long, each coated with a transparent, gelatinous aril.

Varieties

'Pusa Delkious' ('Pusa 1-15')–medium size; flesh deep-orange, of excellent flavor; female and hermaphrodite plants; high-yielding.

'Pusa Majesty' ('Pusa 22-3')–round, of medium size; flesh yellowish, solid; keeps well and ships well; vinis resistant; hermaphrodite plants higher-yielding than the female.

'Pusa Giant' ('Pusa 1-45V')–large fruits suitable for marketing ripe, or green for use as a vegetable, also for canning. Plant dioecious, fast-growing; tall; trunk thick, wind-resistant.

'Pusa Dwarf' ('Pusa 1-45')–fruit oval, of medium size. Plant is dwarf; begins bearing fruit at 10 to 12 in (25-30 cm) above the ground. In much demand for home and commercial culture; suitable for high-density plantings.

     Bruised papaya leaves are used as poultice in treating rheumatism. In nervous pains, leaves can be dipped in hot water or warmed over a fire and applied. As purgative, one tablespoon of the fresh fruit juice mixed with honey and 3 to 4 tbsp. of boiling water is taken one draught by an adult; two hours later, it is followed by a dose of castor oil. This treatment is repeated for 2 days, if necessary, for children aged 7 to 10 years old. The children under 3 years, half the dose is given.

Fungi

     Fungi constitute one of the life kingdoms. Fungi are eukaryotic (eu=true; karyon=nucleus) organisms with a cell wall like plants, but they do not have chlorophyll. Fungi are not able to ingest their food like animals do, nor can they manufacture their own food the way plants do. Instead, fungi feed by absorption of nutrients from the surrounding environment. They accomplish this by growing through and within the substrate on which they are feeding.

Fungi are divided into two big groups: yeasts and moulds. Yeasts are solitary rounded forms that reproduce by making more rounded forms through mechanisms such as budding or fission. Moulds, on the other hand, have bodies composed of thread-like long cells called hyphae. Thus, moulds are also known as filamentous fungi. The filamentous cells are connected end-to-end and grow in a branching fashion forming a network called mycelium. The mycelium that grows over and within a substrate that is used as a source of nourishment is called vegetative mycelium. In the life cycle, the vegetative mycelium may give rise to a large organized reproductive structure called fruit body, which bears the reproductive cells or spores and is produced solely for the release of spores.

     Filamentous fungi or moulds are vital for the maintenance of ecosystems. By breaking down dead organic material, they continue the cycle of nutrients through ecosystems. Some of them act as plant pathogens causing severe crop losses from disease and post-harvest food spoilage. In the reagent industry and medicine areas, filamentous fungi are the source of commercial enzymes, organic acids, and numerous drugs such as antibiotics (e.g. penicillin, cefalosporin). Among filamentous fungi are highly appreciated edible fungi such as Agaricus bisporus, the popular cultivated mushroom; Pleurotus spp., the "oyster mushroom", Tuber spp., "truffles", and Morchella spp., "Morels", among others. Thus, in many areas, the industrial production of genetically engineered fungi has tremendous potential.

  Chapter 3 (Methodology)

I.      Materials

a.       200g of chopped fruit peels (Banana and papaya)

b.       1.5 distilled water

c.       Cheesecloth

d.       3 Gulaman bars

e.       3 Lapad bottles

f.        Potato dextrose agar

g.       Coconut water agar

h.       Beaker

II.     Description of treatments

III.   Procedure:

a.)            Two hundred grams of chopped fruit peels were boiled for thirty minutes with five hundred mL of distilled water.

b.)          The extract was strained using cheesecloth then the amount gathered was measured.

c.)         One clear gulaman bar was added to every five hundred mL extract.

d.)          The mixture was boiled again for thirty minutes.

e.)         Strain again the mixture.

f.)        Dispense it into the lapad bottles with 150 ml each.

g.)        Prepare your PDA and CAA. They will serve as your control set-ups.

h.)        Three replicates per treatment were prepared

i.)         All bottles were autoclaved for one hour then slanted.

Procedure on how to prepare the Potato Dextrose Agar

PDA:

a.)     Boil 300g (11 oz) of sliced (washed but unpeeled) potatoes in water for 30 minutes.

b.)     Strain the broth through cheesecloth.

c.)     Distilled water is added such that the total volume of the suspension is 1 litre (0.22 imp gal; 0.26 US gal). 20 grams (0.71 oz) dextrose and 20 grams (0.71 oz)

d.)     agar powder is then added

e.)     the medium is sterilized by autoclaving at 15 pounds per square inch (100 kPa) for 15 minutes.

Chapter  IV

Results and Findings

Table 1 (daily observation)

Day	Observation
Day 1	The experiment was stable as it was fringed
Day 2	Both the control set-up and the experiment hardened and are ready to manipulate.
Day 3	The control set-up was spotted with white spots and has a pungent smell. We concluded that it was ready to be applied with our experiment. Our experiment already hardened but it already has a liquid portion which can be concluded as the oil from the fruit peels.
Day 4-6	We left our experiment for progress purposes.
Day 7	The control set-up now has lesser spots and the odor was not that strong compared to before.

In our daily observation, we concluded that the ointment we produced from the fruit peels is effective medium culture in treating fungi.

A.  Presentation of Data

     The experiment was a success. We were able to come up with an ointment or medicine for fungi. We tested it with our control set-up which is potato dextrose agar. We proved that papaya and banana peels extract can serve as an alternative medium for fungi. After a couple of days of experimentation, it goes to show that papaya peels extract is a better culture medium for fungi than banana peels extract.

B.  Findings

  Our first hypothesis states that “Both banana and papaya peels extract would be an alternative culture medium for fungi.”)second hypothesis states that “Only the banana peel extract will be the alternative culture medium for fungi” and the third hypothesis states that “Only the papaya peel extract would be an alternative culture medium for fungi were all accepted since it has a reaction in our control set-up which is the Potato dextrose Agar while the fourth hypothesis was rejected which states that “Both banana and papaya peels extract will not be an alternative culture medium for fungi.”

Chapter V

A.  Conclusion

From this study, it can be concluded that papaya and banana peels are effective culture media among the treatments for fungi. Ointments were produced from the experiment which can be used to treat fungi.

B.  Recommendations

It is then recommended that studies on alternative sources of culture medium for fungi from other fruits would be pursued. Research on the viability of banana and papaya peels as culture media for other fungi is also recommended to establish a basis of results for future researchers.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

     The researchers wish to express gratitude to the following: First and foremost, to all the members of this group because without the help of everybody, this experiment will not be completed. We would also like to acknowledge our parents for their valuable guidance, which supported us to the completion of our investigation.

     We are also thankful to one of our members and it’s family because they were able to provide a place for us where it is conducive to conduct our experiment.