Culture Storage on Ceramic Beads |
Culture storage on ceramic beads is one alternative to freeze drying cultures for long-term preservation. The materials are inexpensive and technique relatively simple. Storage time in excess of 3-4 years and up to ten years is possible with this technique. As with any storage method maintaining sterile conditions an using quality control procedures to ensure the purity of cultures is of paramount importance. See Somasegaran and Hoben's Methods in Legume-Rhizobium Technology for more details.
Summary of method:
- Grow culture in YEM or other broth
- Infiltrate ceramic beads with culture
- Drain excess from beads
- Desiccate beads with silica gel in glass storage tubes
- Test purity
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Schematic of Procedure
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Cultures regenerating from stored beads
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Wash beads two times
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Sterilize beads
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Sterilized beads ready ready for inoculation
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Inoculate beads
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Incubating beads in various cultures
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Drain excess culture from beads
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Sterilize silica gel filled screw cap tubes with cotton plug
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Beads after desiccation
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Storing inoculated beads - refrigeration is best
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Removing bead from storage to inoculate broth media
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