Culture media

Specialized media preparation

If you do not have the facilities to prepare sterile media or require only a small amount it may be most efficient to purchase it as "ready-to-use" (i.e., sterile, fully-prepared) solutions. CPCC can provide you with a variety of fully-prepared media in volumes of up to 6 litres. Orders for 3 or more L of the same type of medium receive a $5/L quantity discount, however, orders for large volumes of medium often require an increase in the S&H fee (please see the list of fees for pricing and shipping estimates). Smaller or larger volumes of medium may also be purchased by contacting the curator directly via email or phone.

A concentrate for certain types of medium (e.g., BBM, 3N BBM, BG-11, CHU-10, f/2, MAM, WC) can also be prepared for a reduced fee for those customers requiring very large volumes of medium (some final preparation is required). Concentrates may be purchased as sterile or non-sterile solutions. Concentrates (whether sterile or non-sterile) should be stored in the fridge to improve longevity. If purchasing non-sterile concentrate, please plan to use it quickly since contamination from other organisms (especially bacteria and fungus) can often become an issue even if stored in the fridge. If purchasing sterile concentrate, it should be subsampled aseptically to decrease the risk of contamination. In general, medium is prepared from concentrates by diluting with purified water, stirring, pH adjusting, and sterilizing. However, the specific details differ by type of medium. Therefore, please contact the curator directly via email or phone for instructions regarding medium preparation from concentrate. Concentrate (either sterile or non-sterile) in quantities sufficient to prepare up to 100L of full-strength medium can be ordered online (please see the list of fees for pricing). Smaller or larger volumes of concentrate may also be purchased by contacting the curator directly via email or phone.

For a quote on prepared agar plates or slants please contact the curator.

• Albertano
  Reference: Albertano, P., G. Pinto, S. Santisi and R. Taddei.  1981.  Giornale Botanico Italiano.  VOL.115 :65-76
• BBM
  Reference: Stein, J. 1973. (Ed.) Handbook of Phycological methods. Culture methods and growth measurements. Cambridge University Press. 448 pp.
• BG-11
  Reference: Rippka, R., Deruelles, J., Waterbury, J., Herdman, M., and Stanier, R. 1979. Generic assignments, strain histories and properties of pure cultures of cyanobacteria. J. Gen. Microbiol . 111: 1-61
• CHU-10
  Reference: Stein, J. (Ed.) 1973. Handbook of Phycological methods. Culture methods and growth measurements. Cambridge University Press. 448 pp. 
• f/2
  Reference: Guillard, R.R.L. and Ryther, J.H. 1962. Studies of marine planktonic diatoms. I. Cyclotella nana Hustedt and Detonula confervacea Cleve. Can. J. Microbiol. 8: 229-239
  
  Reference: Guillard, R.R.L. 1975. Culture of phytoplankton for feeding marine invertebrates. pp 26-60. In Smith, W.L. and Chanley, M.H. (Eds) Culture of Marine Invertebrate Animals, Plenum Press, New York.
• Hoagland's E+ (CPCC)
  Reference: Cowgill, U. M. and Milazzo, D. P. 1989. Aquatic Toxicology and Hazard Assessment. 12th volume. ASTM STP 1027. pp. 379-391.
• Hoagland's E+ (Environment Canada)
  Reference: Environment Canada, Method Development and Applications Section, Environmental Technology Centre. 2007. Biological Test Method: Test for Measuring the Inhibition of Growth Using the Freshwater Macrophyte, Lemna minor. EPS 1/RM/37 Second Edition – January 2007.
• High salt medium (HSM)
  Reference: Sueoka, N., Chiang, K. S. and Kates, J. R. (1967) Deoxyribonucleic acid replication in meiosis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.I. Isotopic transfer experiments with a strain producing eight zoospores. J. Mol. Biol. 25: 44-67.
• Jüttner
  Reference: Jüttner et al, 1983.
• Modified acid medium (MAM)
  Reference: Olaveson, Mary M. and Stokes, Pamela M. 1989. Responses of the acidophilic alga Euglena mutabilis (Euglenophyceae) to carbon enrichment at pH 3. Journal of Phycology . 25: 529-539.
• WC
  Reference: Anderson, Robert A. 2005. Algal Culturing Techniques. Elsevier Science & Technology Books. Further modified by Susan Watson, Environment Canada, National Water Research Institute.
• f/2 vitamin solution
  Reference: Guillard, R. R. L. and Ryther, J. H. 1962. Studies of marine planktonic diatoms. I. Cyclotella nana Hustedt and Detonula confervacea Cleve. Can. J. Microbiol. 8: 229-239.