Description

How is Mushroom Agar Powder used in Mushroom Cultivation? 

Agar is a wonderful product that mushroom cultivators use to observe the development of mycelium. Agar plates are an amazing medium to observe mycelium because of the two-dimensional plane, unlike three-dimensional planes, such as grain spawn, which could have hidden contaminants inside. The benefits of having the ability to observe mycelium on a two-dimensional plane also allows for more experiments such as breeding experiments, spore isolation, crossbreeding strains, cloning tissue and cleaning up contamination. Most importantly though, agar plates are primarily used to store cultures for long-term use. An agar plate with mycelium grown on it, if sealed correctly, can last in the fridge for up to 12 months. 

How to Use Planet Spores’ Mushroom Agar Powder Formula

Supplies needed:

• Planet Spores’ Pre-Mixed Mushroom Agar Powder
• Digital scale
• Infrared thermometer 
• Measuring cup
• Hot water
• Media Bottle (GL45 or mason jar)
• Pressure canner/cooker (PC)
• Parafilm 
• SAB (Still Air Box) or Flow Hood

Step 1: Combine Pre-Mixed Malt Extract Agar Powder with Water

Using a digital scale weigh out 44g of Planet Spores’ Mushroom Agar Powder Formula and measure out 1000ml of water. If you need more or less, ensure to maintain the ratio of 4.4g of Planet Spores’ Mushroom Agar Powder Formula to every 100 ml of water. 

Combine the weighed out Mushroom Agar Powder with the already measured water in a media bottle. Only fill your media bottle ¾ full, the space is needed to allow bubbles to rise. It is recommended to use a GL45, which is a laboratory grade, autoclavable glass bottle that has a removable pouring ring that ensures drip-free pouring. You can also use a mason jar with a lid that has an air hole filled with Poly-fil. Once ingredients are combined in the media bottle give the ingredients a mix so there are no large clumps of powder.

Step 2: Sterilizing Agar For Mushroom Cultivation 

Before placing the media bottle into the pressure cooker, cover the lid with tin foil and slightly unscrew the lid so it is not too tight to allow air to escape. 

Now place the media bottle in your PC and fill the PC up with water until it is level with the agar liquid in the media bottle. This will highly reduce the chances of the agar liquid over-boiling. 

Start up the PC and sterilize at 15 PSI for 30 minutes. Sterilization time begins when the PC hits 15 PSI. Sterilizing the Mushroom Agar Powder Formula any longer than 30 minutes will increase the chances of the sugars caramelizing and crystalizing. 

Step 3: Cooling Agar Liquid and Prepping Work Station

After the PC has cooled down and the pressure gauge reads 0, take the PC lid off, then remove the tinfoil off of the media bottle and tighten the cap. 

The optimal temperature to pour the agar is between 42-55°C. This is the perfect window of opportunity to pour the agar plates. Once the agar drops below 42°C(107°F) it will need to be reheated to attain the right viscosity to be poured again. Above 55°C the media bottle may be too hot to handle. 

To cool the agar liquid quicker, remove some of the hot water in the PC and replace it with cold water. Use an infrared thermometer directly on the media bottle to get an accurate temperature.

Step 3a: Prep Work Station

While the agar liquid is cooling, prepare your workstation with the supplies needed and sanitize as necessary. 

Step 4: Pour Agar into Petri Dishes

Pouring agar plates in front of a flow hood is the most efficient method, but it is absolutely possible to pour agar plates in a Still Air Box (SAB). Before beginning to pour the agar, either using a flow hood or a still air box, sanitize the media bottle beforehand by wiping it down with 70% isopropyl alcohol.  Ensure petri-dishes are laid out in a manner where they will be most effective for the pourer. Pour enough so that the bottom of the plate is covered with the agar liquid then immediately place the lid on. If you are working in a SAB, it is recommended to pour one plate at a time to avoid having contaminants dropping into the sterile plates. Repeat until all of the plates are poured. It will take approximately 45 minutes for the agar plates to solidify and be ready for further use or storage.

If there is left over agar liquid in the media bottle, it can be stored in the fridge for future use. The bottle will just have to be heated up in the microwave until it reaches 85°C, then allow it to cool down to 55°C and it is once again pourable. 

Step 5: Use or Store the Mushroom Agar Plates

Once all the plates have been poured, allow them to cool down completely (approximately 45 minutes) and solidify. Once mushroom agar plates have cooled down and the agar has solidified, they can now be inoculated or stored for later use. The agar plates can be stored at room temperature for up to a month. If they are wrapped in parafilm (or plastic wrapped) and kept in the fridge, they can last for up to 12 months.

Where to Buy Mushroom Agar Powder in Canada

PlanetSpores.ca is Canada’s best and most trustworthy online mycology store, offering high quality Mushroom Agar Powder and a wide variety of magic mushroom genetics as well as a large selection of mushroom spawn and substrates, lab equipment, mushroom grow kits and how-to guides. 

Our Mushroom Agar Powder Formula is filled with only the highest quality ingredients, making it the best premixed agar formula sold in Canada.