Agar to Agar Transfer

In order to perform an agar to agar transfer with mushroom mycelium, follow these steps carefully.

For agar to agar transfer, you will need-

• Agar Plates
• Flow hood or glove box
• Scalpels
• Alcohol Wipes
• Open flame (do not put in glove box, see warning below)

First, ensure a sterile environment by working in a laminar flow hood or a clean, disinfected workspace.

Prepare pre-poured agar plates and sterilize the scalpel using an open flame or alcohol wipe.

With sterile technique, gently scrape a small section of mycelium from the donor agar plate and transfer it to the recipient agar plate. Repeat the process for multiple transfers or different strains.

Next, cover the recipient agar plate immediately after the transfer to prevent contamination. Label the plate with the necessary information such as the date, strain, and any other relevant details.

Incubate the plates at the appropriate temperature and in the desired conditions for the specific mushroom strain. Regularly monitor the plates for growth and any signs of contamination. Remember to maintain proper hygiene and sterilization throughout the entire transfer process to ensure successful results. 

Once the plates are colonized, you can take a cutting from the plate. We will go into more detail on that in an upcoming lesson.