This is a firm medium that keeps well and makes a good base for egg collecting. Wrap filled petri dishes and store at 4 - 14oC (they should keep for at least 6 weeks). Substitute molasses for the corn syrup if you prefer a dark medium, or add food coloring. This recipe makes about 60 6 x 2 cm plates.
Ingredients
| Water | 2.25 | liters |
| Agar | 88 | grams |
| Light corn syrup | 350 | milliliters |
| 10% p-Hydroxy-benzoic acid methyl ester in 95% ethanol | 38 | milliliters |
Instructions
Mix water, agar and syrup.
Boil until agar is dissolved.
Cool for 5 minutes or more, stir in p-Hydroxy-benzoic acid methyl ester.
Dispense into petri dishes.
Notes
- Agar
- The amount of agar should be determined empirically for your brand and lot of agar. We buy 100 lb. barrels of "Agar 700" (product #40004) from Mooragar, Inc.
- Corn Syrup
- We use Karo® light corn syrup.