Agar Questions

[dr.micology]

I have only tried agar 1 time! (It was a long time ago) When I tried it,

I bought a small package from the hooby store that contained 5 petri dishes and a small vial of agar..............

It did not work! I am pretty sure I mixed the right amount of water with powder then poured in a few jars and and I pressure cooked for 1 hour................

I used a syringe to try to get mycelium to grow but the only thing that happened was, the dishes built up a bad case of moisture! Someone told me to flip them upside down but this did not work either.........

Well, I would really like to try this again but I am confused..........
I have tried reading the forums but I just can't find the exact info I need so I am sorry if this has been asked before!

My question:

Wich one of these should I get?
http://sporeworks.com/store/catalog/...p-1-c-253.html

Remember I am basically a newbie to agar and don't know much about it so I need any info you think would help!

Thank You All Very Much!

[tomstevens]

I would start with the basic package and if that works for you then step it up to whatever you want next...I like PDA, it seems to work fine for me...

[Shroomette]

Dr. micology maybe this would be more help to you IMHO .....http://www.sporeworks.com/labnotes/agartek.html

[dr.micology]

Originally Posted by Shroomette

Dr. micology maybe this would be more help to you IMHO .....http://www.sporeworks.com/labnotes/agartek.html

Nice! Thank you this helped!

Also, is it ok to inoculate the agar with a syringe? Or do you want to use a print, live tissue or ect?

My first time I used a syringe!

Thanks Again To Everyone!

[teesus]

you can use a syringe, just use a small drop on the center only. to much moisture on the plate and bacteria can reach every place on the plate as you move it

[dr.micology]

I like the kits, but I don't need any of the other stuff thats there!

I think I am going to get this!

http://sporeworks.com/store/product....cat=253&page=1

Will this work ok? Do I need to add anything else to it? (other than water)


Thanks

[Shroomette]

Good choice there Dr. micology and no you won't need anything but, water and I do recommend a syringe which will work just fine. Glad I was some help to ya Dr.

[normaniac]

Dr.Micology, I've been having similar problems W/agar teks. I've tried MEA,PDY and a couple others w/ no growth. I'm mean NO growth of anything. I follow the teks to the letter. I know the spores are viable. I've used LC on agar and spore solution. Nothing! Sometimes I have alot of condensation. Sometimes the agar won't retain its fimness. The ony thing I know of is that the water in my area is heavy w/ minerals. I'd like to attempt growing some wood species that prefer an agar start. I've had alot of luck w/ PF tek and bird seed tek. Can anyone help me figure out what could be going wron w/ my agar attempts?

[crazy1]

If the water in your area is heavy in minerals then I'd suggest using distilled water.
It's very important to make sure you use the right amount of water so it sets up properly.
Here's a TEK I did on doing agar the simple way.
http://forums.mycotopia.net/agar-str...-agar-tek.html (Crazy Agar Tek)

[dr.micology]

I always try to use distilled water with any thing I am doing!
I don't even drink tap water! So I would not want my precious

to come in contact with it!

BTW, Thank You All For The Advice: As far as the moisture, contams, ect.......It never hurts to try again........I did the math and I think that much agar is enough to make close to 2 gallons...............so being knocked down a time or two will be alright I will just get up when I sober up!

[Myc]

Originally Posted by normaniac

Dr.Micology, I've been having similar problems W/agar teks. I've tried MEA,PDY and a couple others w/ no growth. I'm mean NO growth of anything. The ony thing I know of is that the water in my area is heavy w/ minerals.

I believe that tap water can alter the pH of your agar.
I use distilled water - always had growth, never had a failure (other than contams)
PDYA
filtered, extracted broth from boiling
300 grams of cleaned, sliced, potatoes (do not peel)
in 1 liter of distilled water for 1 hour
add distilled water to broth to equal 1 liter
10 grams dextrose sugar (from brewer's supply)
2 grams nutritional yeast (optional)
20 grams agar

MEA
1 liter distilled water
20 grams light tan malt (avoid the dark malts from the brewer's supply)
2 grams nutritional yeast
10 grams agar

PC for 30 min. @ 15 psi
or split recipe into 2 quart jars and go 20 min. @ 15 psi
Recipes courtesy of "The Mushroom Cultivator"
I use them successfully all the time.
You also can't go wrong with Sporeworks' pre-made powder either.
Both formulae are preferred by woodlovers of all kinds.

I'd like to attempt growing some wood species that prefer an agar start. I've had alot of luck w/ PF tek and bird seed tek. Can anyone help me figure out what could be going wron w/ my agar attempts?

PF Tek style woodlover jars
Carefully weigh dry weight of hardwood sawdust before soaking
Pre-hydrate hardwood sawdust by soaking 3-4 hours in plain tap water
Add dry oat bran in a 1:4 ratio (1 part bran to 4 parts sawdust)
or if you weighed carefully the ratio is 20%
Mix thouroughly
Load into pf style jars with ported lids (verm barrier, lids, etc., as described in the pf tek)
PC pt. or 1/2 pt. jars for 60 min. @ 15 psi
Innoculate like a pf tek jar with your favorite woodlover
They'll rip right through it.

Have fun and good luck!

Note: Most active woodlovers will not fruit from this substrate
You'll need to use these cakes as spawn for grain jars, woodchips, etc.

[normaniac]

Thank you to all the members that took the time to reply to my question. I have a question about vermiculite. I coudn't find any verm in my local stores except the very fine type. So I ordered some from a packng company. It was described as "medium texture" Now I have two large boxes that contain a mixture from fine, medium and large pieces.
I tried sifting it to isolate the medium pieces. I did the best I could - but lately, using the pf tek w/verm, Brn rice flour and jars I get terrible
myc. growth. It's spotty, slow and won't colonize the entire jar. Is it possible this packing verm has something to inhibit growth? Or could it be the variance in moisture retention - because its not all the same consitency? I'm getting ready to toss it. Any suggestions would be apreciated.

[limeade]

never pack any substrate

[dr.micology]

Originally Posted by limeade

never pack any substrate

I know/agree......

Anyway, I have ordered the pda and already got it........
I added 1 liter distilled water to 39 gms. pda powder
I used baby jars so I could pour a small amount in them and pressure cook.........(that way, I do not have to pour into plates and risk contams.......

Out of 10 jars only one did not solidify.......I have checked for contams in the other 9 jars and do not see any contams wich means so far so good! (I will be inoculating them tomorrow and will post a pic of the results in a week or so............

Thanks again for everyones help!

[clem]

i use this formula when i did agar. it works really well.

1 pint of water
2 teaspoon of agar
1 teaspoon of malt
1 teaspoon of dextrose

mix it all up in a quart jar then pc it for 20 minutes.

[Myc]

Originally Posted by normaniac

Thank you to all the members that took the time to reply to my question. I have a question about vermiculite. I coudn't find any verm in my local stores except the very fine type. So I ordered some from a packng company. It was described as "medium texture" Now I have two large boxes that contain a mixture from fine, medium and large pieces.
I tried sifting it to isolate the medium pieces. I did the best I could - but lately, using the pf tek w/verm, Brn rice flour and jars I get terrible
myc. growth. It's spotty, slow and won't colonize the entire jar. Is it possible this packing verm has something to inhibit growth? Or could it be the variance in moisture retention - because its not all the same consitency? I'm getting ready to toss it. Any suggestions would be apreciated.

I wouldn't toss that verm.
Use the fine stuff for a contam barrier on the tops of the jars.
Use the coarse particles for substrate to support growth.

I doubt that there are any inhibitors on the verm. since vermiculite is non-nutritious and won't support growth without additives - water, brf, etc.

Not sure why you're getting spotty growth.
Maybe start another thread where some more experienced PF tek users can weigh in with some advice.

[vinz]

sometimes if you have agar that doesnt show growth and you used spores to inoculate it, that could be that the spores are dry

for old prints, its good to hydrate it for 24 hours by transferring it into a syringe

making the syringe should be really sterile
i would recommend distilled water as well..

and one drop on the agar is a good tip
also you might eventually need a glove box
agar contaminates easily

to fight against the moisture on the top of the petri dishes..
after you PC the agar.. let it cool a bit
cool enough for you to touch (but still kinda hot)
and ready the dishes
open the dish, pour some agar, close the dish, put another dish on top, and repeat
so it should come out that you are stacking the dishes, that will keep the moisture from the top away
and at the very top of the stack you put a hot cup of water on top

also seal it well with parafilm
i use cling wrap

i also pour and let it dry in the glove box.. i dont remove it from there til after i drop some spore solution and seal it again with parafilm or clingwarp

so things have to be done quick and clean

once you have mycelium growth or tissue growth, you can work with h202 PDa agar or peroxide agar
to help of a lotagainst contams

good luck

[sandman]

I use packing verm no probs