Seed in agar growing
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2024 5:53 am
Hey I really need help I have a project that I have to grow seeds in agar but bacteria keep growing in it what should I do
Sat., Mar. 30, 2024
Hi Leeni,
In answer to your question, yes you can sterilize seeds to prevent outgrowth of bacteria on agar medium. All you have to do is soak the seeds briefly in a dilute solution of Clorox.
Here is one reference for seed sterilization that I found by searching for "method for sterilizing seeds with clorox":
https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/tech ... rilization
The method is basically to put the dry seeds into a glass container, add enough regular Clorox (bleach concentration about 5%) to cover them, and soak the seeds for 5-10 minutes. Afterward, you should rinse them five times by adding sterile distilled water to the glass, swirling it around for a minute, then carefully pouring off the water.
Your seeds should now be sterile on the outside. Use sterile forceps to place them on the agar immediately, close the lid of the Petri dish, and incubate at 24 degrees C (75 degrees F).
Let me know if this works OK. The Clorox might affect the germination time of some seeds, so be patient.
Best wishes,
Sybee