Potential of Potato Strach (Solanum tuberosum) as an Alternative Medium for the Growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Salmonella typhimurium

Potensi Media Tepung Kentang (Solanum tuberosum) Sebagai Media Alternatif Pertumbuhan Bakteri Staphylococcus epidermidis dan Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract

High commercial costs of  Nutrient Agar (NA) and underutilized local resources have driven the search for economical, accessible alternative media. This study evaluated potato flour (Solanum tuberosum) as a substitute substrate for cultivating Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis and Gram-negative Salmonella typhimurium. Using a wet lab experimental design, six treatments were tested with four replications: four graded concentrations of potato flour (2g, 4g, 6g, and 8g) fortified with glucose and NaCl, alongside Nutrient Agar (positive control) and Bacteriological Agar (negative control). Two-way ANOVA results demonstrated that bacterial type (p=0.000), flour concentration (p=0.000), and their interaction (p=0.000) significantly impacted colony counts. Duncan’s post-hoc test identified that while the 2g concentration yielded the lowest growth, concentrations of 4g, 6g, and 8g produced statistically similar colony counts. The findings suggest that potato flour is a viable, cost-effective alternative medium for supporting the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.