Description
Pre-Poured Petri Dishes with Malt Extract Agar (MEA) and Anti-Bacterial Compounds for Mushroom Growing
Your Purchase Includes:
- 10x pre-cut Parafilm strips
- 10x 90mm Petri dishes with MEA containing anti-bacterial compounds, sealed snugly
Storage Instructions: Store at room temperature. Do not refrigerate unless colonized.
Plate Shelf Life and Storage
The optimal shelf life for plates is 30-45 days. Order plates as needed, as they cannot be stored indefinitely, even in their original packaging. While most plates can last for months, their ideal shelf life is 30 days.
Usage and Contamination
Plates may remain usable beyond 30 days if uncontaminated. If contamination occurs in one plate, it doesn’t affect others in the pack. Discard contaminated plates and use the rest as normal.
Long-term Storage
Extended storage may cause plates to lose moisture, becoming stiff and papery. Use plates only if they remain gelatinous and uncontaminated. Discard any that become stiff or papery, as they can no longer support organism growth.
Refund Policy
For damaged or contaminated plates upon delivery:
• Contact us within 30 days of the ORDER date
• Provide photos for refund requests
• No replacements are offered; only refunds
Storage Guidelines
Before inoculation:
• Store in a cool, dry place (e.g., cupboard)
• Avoid refrigeration to prevent condensation
• Place upside down to minimize condensation
After colonization:
• Refrigerate when at least 60% colonized
• Label (date and species) and put in zip-lock bags for storage
• It is best to keep it in the vegetable compartment of the fridge
Remember: The packaging sleeve is not a sterile seal. Proper storage is crucial for maintaining plate quality.
About the Petri Dish:
These dishes are made of clear polystyrene, providing clarity while being disposable and durable. They are easy to stock and grip, with an anti-slip ring offering stability.
General MEAG Information:
MEAG is a gelatinous medium used to purify, germinate, isolate, and manipulate mushroom mycelium while drastically reducing contamination due to its anti-bacterial compounds.
These Petri dishes are 100% ready to inoculate with spores or mushroom mycelium. The key feature is the inclusion of anti-bacterial compounds. In agar mycelium cultures, these compounds inhibit bacteria to a manageable level. Often, spores are contaminated with bacteria that they carry to the agar media, where fast-growing bacterial spores can outcompete mushroom spores.
However, when infected spores are introduced to MEAG, the mushroom spores can germinate and grow, leaving bacterial contamination behind. This is because the mycelium’s long, sharp filaments (hyphae) carry fewer bacteria as they pass through the anti-bacterial compounds. These plates do not prevent the growth of non-bacterial contaminants.
Recommended Uses for MEA with Anti-Bacterial Compounds:
- Germinating spores from a spore syringe or spore print with a likelihood of contamination
- Isolating a specific strain of mushroom
- Cloning wild mushrooms
- Purifying mycelium from other contaminated agar plates or liquid culture
Ingredients:
- Malt Extract: Contains a high concentration of maltose, providing a suitable environment for fungi growth due to its rich source of carbon, protein, and nitrogenous compounds.
- Agar-Agar: Extracted from seaweeds such as gracilaria and gelidium, agar-agar is used as a firming and thickening agent for Petri dish experimentation due to its unique gel properties and stability.
Additional Products:
We offer other pre-poured agar plates in our store. You can also buy anti-bacterial powder or other pre-made agar mixes to make your own agar plates.
