What is Black Agar? How do I use it?
Black agar is a type of nutrient agar that contains activated charcoal or carbon black, which gives it a dark color. It is a popular medium used in mycology for the cultivation and isolation of different types of fungi.
Agar plates have been used for decades by mushroom growing enthusiasts and are becoming more popular again. You start by squirting a tiny amount of spore solution on the plate. Incubate for a few days and white mycelium patches begin to form. Agar lets you choose the fastest growing and most robust mycelium for use in your growing project while being able to isolate any mold without ruining your culture plate.
Isolating a culture is how the experts grow the biggest and best mushrooms, the ones you see in pictures on the many forums. After you choose your mycelium colony to use, create a still air box or use a flow hood and cut a piece of the agar out and place into a spawn bag, spawn jar or liquid culture to grow. Working with agar seems intimidating and prone to contamination but with the chloramphenicol added, the risks are much lower and easier than you can imagine!
When properly used, black agar provides an ideal substrate for the growth of fungi and allows for the observation and characterization of the colony morphology and pigmentation of the fungus being studied. The dark color of the agar provides a good contrast to the white or light-colored mycelium, making it easier to observe the growth and morphology of the fungus. The carbon in the agar can also promote the growth of certain types of fungi while inhibiting the growth of bacteria, which can help to prevent contamination and promote the growth of pure fungal cultures.
Overall, black agar is a valuable tool in mycology for the cultivation and study of fungi, and its proper use can lead to accurate and reliable observations and results in fungal research.
Read our Blog about using Agar by clicking Here
Watch video on using Agar and Agar Slants Here!
- 10 Sterilized BLACK MEA Agar plates
- 100mm Polystyrene Petri Dishes
- 100% Pure lab grade carbon added
- Made with perfect blend of ingredients to promote healthy mycelium colonies
- Pressure sterilized & Poured in our lab using laminar flow hood
- Chloramphenicol added to resist contamination
- Store agar plates in the fridge and use within 3-4 weeks for optimal results
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