Beginner's Guide to Agar Work

The images show different types of growth on plates. It's easy to identify the targeted growing specimen from contamination. Dealing with contamination is an integral part of mycology. It cannot be avoided but can be reduced through sterile lab techniques and special agar formulations. Sometimes contamination can be difficult to be identified by an un-trained eye. Working with agar is a very sensitive process as even the smallest of the errors magnify over time. It's important to diagnose the problems on time and act fast.

## What agar work is for Agar is a firm nutrient jelly, usually made with millet stock, that lets you grow and inspect mycelium on a plate. Growers use it to clean up cultures, isolate a single strain away from contamination, and pick the healthiest, fastest sectors to keep. ## What you need - Pre-poured millet stock or potato dextrose agar plates - A scalpel or inoculation loop - A flame source such as a spirit lamp - 70% isopropyl alcohol - A still air box for clean work ## How to transfer on a plate 1. Spray the still air box, your gloves, and the outside of the plate with 70% isopropyl. 2. Flame your scalpel until it faintly glows, then let it cool for a few seconds. 3. Lift the lid only as far as you need, transfer a clean specimen of mycelium, and place it on the fresh plate. 4. Close the plate quickly and tape the edge with grafting tape or parafilm tape. 5. Label it with the strain and date, and incubate at 20 to 26°C. ## Reading your plates Healthy mycelium is bright white and grows evenly. Any other colour, a slimy look, sharp lines between zones, or a sour smell points to contamination. Transfer only from clean, vigorous growth, and repeat the transfer over a few generations to clean up a strain if its contaminated.