Cornmeal agar with Tween 80 is used to identify which characteristic of an unknown yeast isolate?

Cornmeal agar with Tween 80 is a selective medium that promotes the growth of certain yeasts and helps differentiate specific morphological characteristics. This medium is particularly well recognized for its ability to induce the production of various types of fungal structures that can be observed under the microscope.

When using cornmeal agar with Tween 80, yeasts such as Candida species can be evaluated for their formation of hyphae, blastoconidia (budding cells), arthroconidia (thick-walled, rectangular cells), and chlamydospores (thick, spherical structures formed under certain conditions). The presence of these structures provides vital information about the morphology and reproductive strategies of the yeast, greatly assisting in species identification.

The versatility of cornmeal agar with Tween 80 makes it effective for displaying a range of yeast characteristics, which is why all noted features (hyphae, blastoconidia, arthroconidia, and chlamydospores) can be confidently identified using this growth medium. Therefore, the inclusion of all these characteristics in the answer highlights the comprehensive utility of cornmeal agar in mycological studies.