@16:28 - My issue - if you want to call it that - was that my transfers were a different type of agar. The transfers I made grew out from the surface of the sample agar getting kid of bushy before venturing out on the new host agar. Fascinating stuff.
I've had that happen before, it's pretty neat to watch them do that. I've seen them do that even when they are inoculated on the same type of agar. I think it's mostly because they've already started breaking down the food source on the piece that was transferred so there's more available nutrients in the short term. So they just continue to grow faster on that chunk.
Yeah MEA is a great all around choice for sure. I really like it for starting things out on agar and the like. PDA is my favorite for long term storage in my fridge. But sometimes if I've done multiple transfers I like to switch up the nutrients so the culture doesn't get too used to one type of nutrient. I have no idea if it makes a difference but I still do it haha
@13:51 - Make sure to wrap it in parafilm or if you're a cheap bastard like me - cling film. The generic stuff. Cut the rolls - whole - in to 2" sections. Works a treat!
Cling film and press and seal is my favorite for storing since it does a great job at keeping contams out, while keeping moisture in. Parafilm is great but after awhile it does tend to let cultures dry out. I think every amateur lab should have some type of plastic wrap in it because it's so versatile haha
I finally have a couple of contams on agar. Unfortunately, it's cotton mold and just as white. Thankfully all of the contams seem to have emanated from their own spot on the petries. I have managed to sample 2 contaminated dishes and have successfully clean plates from that. I got the contams as I forgot to actually turn off the HEPA/UV/oxone generator on while culturing. On a brighter note, I managed to make my own agar plates using the tiny, clear mason jars. I got a pre-mixed MEA packet because impatience. I also have a couple of clean plates that have some almost other-worldly ryzomorphic growth that looks like it's ready to take over the world. I hope you're well. I may send you an email to your working address.
Cotton mold is evil lol. I had a lot of issues with that when I first started this hobby. I remember one time when I had my flow hood set up I tried isolating a culture from a contam so I stupidly put the petri dish in the air flow and blew spores all throughout my shed. It took 6 months before I didn't constantly have issues with that anymore.
@16:28 - My issue - if you want to call it that - was that my transfers were a different type of agar. The transfers I made grew out from the surface of the sample agar getting kid of bushy before venturing out on the new host agar. Fascinating stuff.
I've had that happen before, it's pretty neat to watch them do that. I've seen them do that even when they are inoculated on the same type of agar. I think it's mostly because they've already started breaking down the food source on the piece that was transferred so there's more available nutrients in the short term. So they just continue to grow faster on that chunk.
My pre-made plates were potato agar. My new, homemade agar jars are MEA. I can see the difference in the way the mycelium attacks the agar.
Yeah MEA is a great all around choice for sure. I really like it for starting things out on agar and the like. PDA is my favorite for long term storage in my fridge. But sometimes if I've done multiple transfers I like to switch up the nutrients so the culture doesn't get too used to one type of nutrient. I have no idea if it makes a difference but I still do it haha
@13:51 - Make sure to wrap it in parafilm or if you're a cheap bastard like me - cling film. The generic stuff. Cut the rolls - whole - in to 2" sections. Works a treat!
Cling film and press and seal is my favorite for storing since it does a great job at keeping contams out, while keeping moisture in. Parafilm is great but after awhile it does tend to let cultures dry out. I think every amateur lab should have some type of plastic wrap in it because it's so versatile haha
@@randomergy683 I didn't realize it was so easy to cut as a whole roll.
I finally have a couple of contams on agar. Unfortunately, it's cotton mold and just as white. Thankfully all of the contams seem to have emanated from their own spot on the petries. I have managed to sample 2 contaminated dishes and have successfully clean plates from that. I got the contams as I forgot to actually turn off the HEPA/UV/oxone generator on while culturing. On a brighter note, I managed to make my own agar plates using the tiny, clear mason jars. I got a pre-mixed MEA packet because impatience. I also have a couple of clean plates that have some almost other-worldly ryzomorphic growth that looks like it's ready to take over the world. I hope you're well. I may send you an email to your working address.
Cotton mold is evil lol. I had a lot of issues with that when I first started this hobby. I remember one time when I had my flow hood set up I tried isolating a culture from a contam so I stupidly put the petri dish in the air flow and blew spores all throughout my shed. It took 6 months before I didn't constantly have issues with that anymore.