What is Malt Extract Agar (MEA)?
Malt Extract Agar is a solid support medium that is used for isolating and cultivating fungi and yeast.
It is strongly recommended to germinate spores on Malt Extract Agar before use. Cultivating mycelium on a MEA plate we can visually identify contaminants when germinating spores and then transfer mycelium to a new MEA plate.
MEA plates are also used to cultivate mushroom cultures for long-term use.
Why use Malt Extract Agar Yeast to grow mushroom culture?
Malt extract agar yeast is an excellent growth medium for mushroom culture. Malt extract provides carbon, protein, and nutrient sources required for the growth of fungi and microorganisms. Yeast provides vitamin B-complex and other growth nutrients to stimulate the growth of mushroom tissue cultures.
Flow Hood Needed?
A laminar flow hood is a device that creates a low-velocity flow of air that provides an aseptic work area environment. Using the flow hood during preparing MEA plates will reduce the chance of contamination. If you don't have a flow hood, sterile transfers can be done in a glove box or enclosed space with minimal airflow area.
How to make your own MEA plate?
Step 1 - Choose your work area to pour your plates. Clean the area to create a sterile workspace. If you don't have a flow hood, try to find an enclosed area with minimum airflow and cover your workspace to pour plates with a roll of paper towels.
Step 2 - Suspend 21g of Shroom Bloom Malt Extract Agar Yeast in 500 ml of distilled water into a pot. The 500ml of our MEA solution can make around 20-25 90x15 mm Petri Dishes. If you want to make 40-50 90x15 mm Petri Dishes, use the 42g of Shroom Bloom Malt Extract Agar Yeast Mix in 1000 ml of distilled water.
Step 3 - Heat the solution to boiling and stir to dissolve the solution. It is not necessary to dissolve it completely as it will be dissolved during sterilisation.
Step 4 - Prepare a narrow neck glass bottle that can withstand high heat and pressure and a non-absorbent cotton wool bung with foil to be wrapped over the top of the bottle.
Step 5 - Pour the MEA solution into the bottle and cover with the prepared cotton wool and foil wrapped over the top of the bottle to seal it. Then pressure cook at 121 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. Allow to completely depressurise before opening the pressure cooker.
Step 6 - Let the solution cool down to about 50 degrees Celsius to reduce condensation. You can place the bottle in a warm water bath to cool down and to avoid it setting below 50 degrees Celsius too quickly.
Step 6 - To reduce condensation, the best way is to pour the solution into a stack. Stack Petri dishes 5 plates high. Remove the cotton wool and foil from the bottle. Start by pouring the bottom plate on the stack by lifting its lid with the additional 4 empty plates. Ensure that cover the dish immediately with its cover to reduce the chance of contamination. Then repeat this action with other stacks.
Step 7 - Let the MEA plates cool down at room temperature. Seal the cooled MEA plates using parafilm or plastic wrap. Write the date of preparation on the plates and keep them in a refrigerator until use. Avoid using if the MEA plates are more than 2 months old.