Question

10x 100x 40x Conclusions: Do the results agree with your expected results? M no there was no a growth Why would it be advantageous to grow microbes on a nutrient agar rather than in a nutrient broth? Adapted from: Laboratory Experiments in Microbiology 12h Edition

Answer 1

To grow microbes on nutrient agar rather than nutrient broth is advantageous because of the following reasons:

(Nutrient agar medium is used as a solid medium due to presence of solidifying agent agar and nutrient broth is a liquid medium due to absence of solidifying agent.)

1. One can observe each and every individual colony on solid surface of nutrient agar which is not possible on broth.

2. One can confirm that the cells from each colony belong to the same parent and so, they are genetically identical.

3. From mixed cultures, different types of colonies which represent different cultures or strains can be picked directly from solid surface of nutrient agar.

4. One can observe and avoid contamination from the desired colony on nutrient agar by transferring that colony on another plate.

5. The nutrient agar medium is more advantageous for isolation as well as preservation of microbial cultures.