Potato Dextrose Agar is recommended by APHA and FDA for culturing yeast and moulds. The medium can also be used in the identification of fungi and yeasts in parallel with their cellular morphology, or in methods of micro cultivation in slides. This general-purpose medium can be supplemented with acid or antibiotics to inhibit bacterial growth. The nutritionally rich base (potato infusion) encourages a very rich fungal and mould growth. Dextrose is the fermentable carbohydrate as a carbon and energy source. Bacteriological Agar is the solidifying agent.

The European Pharmacopoeia, USP recommends this medium for: “Microbiological examination of non-sterile products: Microbial enumeration test” for the preparation of the test strain in the examination of TYMC.