What is Agar? How do I use it?
Agar is a versatile tool used by mushroom growing enthusiasts to cultivate high-quality mycelium colonies. By squirting a tiny amount of spore solution onto an agar plate and incubating for a few days, white mycelium patches will begin to form, allowing you to select the fastest-growing and most robust mycelium for use in your growing project. With agar, you can isolate any mold without compromising your culture plate, a technique used by experts to grow the biggest and best mushrooms showcased on various forums.
Once you've chosen your mycelium colony, you can create a still air box or use a flow hood to cut a piece of the agar and transfer it into a spawn bag, jar, or liquid culture to grow. While working with agar may seem intimidating and prone to contamination, the addition of chloramphenicol significantly reduces the risks and makes the process much easier than you might imagine. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a beginner, agar is an essential tool to achieve success in mushroom cultivation.
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Watch this video on using Agar and Agar Slants Here!
There are two distinct types of mycelium, namely tomentose (cottony) and rhizomorphic (threadlike) mycelium. Tomentose mycelium has a fluffy, fuzzy, or matted appearance, and this can be attributed to two factors. Firstly, it may have many genetic strains, and secondly, its hyphal strands may not spread widely enough to seek nutrients from the substrate, resulting in their close proximity.
In contrast, rhizomorphic mycelium appears as a well-defined network of strings, which can be due to the growth of only one or a few genetic strains. Growers typically prefer rhizomorphic mycelium because it grows more aggressively and can colonize much faster, leading to more abundant flushes. However, this does not mean that tomentose mycelium should be discarded. It is a normal growth and can still produce good flushes.
Our Rapid Rhizo Pre-Poured Sterilized Agar Plates include:
- 5 Rapid Rhizo Pre-Poured Sterilized Agar Plates
- Our nutrient blend is perfectly formulated to promote fast and aggressive rhizomorphic growth in your samples.
- 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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