Culture methods
Most of the industrially useful bacteria and fungi are cultured on either a solid medium or a liquid medium with a support. In either case, the medium should contain all essential ingredients needed for optimum growth of that particular micro-organism. Solid medium is generally prepared by melting agar at 100°C (in water) and then solidifying it at about 45°C. The medium which is still in a molten state, is poured into a suitable container and is allowed to cool and solidify. It is then inoculated by dipping a needle into the suspension of bacteria or fungi and drawing this needle right across the surface of the medium. After a few days of inoculation, colonies of micro-organism appear on the surface of the medium. In liquid cultures, all essential nutrients are dissolved in water, and no solidifying agent like agar is needed.


