Description
Solidifying agents play a vital role in tissue culture media, providing essential support for the optimal growth and development of plants when incorporated into the medium. Additionally, the inclusion of solidifying agents helps ensure the even distribution of nutrients, hormones, and other crucial elements throughout the culture medium.
The two most common solidifying agents used in the process are agar and gellan gum. Agar, derived from seaweed, is a polysaccharide. It imparts a gel-like texture to the medium, facilitating the adherence, growth, and differentiation of plant cells.
The benefits of agar as tissue culture media
- Easy to use
- Acts as a solid support for the growth and development of explants
- Allows the absorption of nutrients by the plant cells
- Cost-effective
How To Use Agar
Follow the given steps to prepare 1 liter of tissue culture media using PCT’s Supreme TC Agar:
- Take a beaker and add 800 ml of distilled water to it.
- To the water add 4.54 grams of PCT’s MS Media (or alternative medium based on your plant), 30 grams of sugar, and PPM™ (generally 1-2 ml/L).
- Make up the volume of the media to 1000ml.
- Adjust the pH of the media between 5.4-5.8.
- Add 6-8 grams of PCT’s Supreme Tissue Culture Grade Agar to the media and keep stirring.
- Autoclave the medium for 20 minutes at 15 psi and 121℃.
Your media is ready!
