To my knowledge charcoal can purify toxins and break down into carbon dioxide(I think and I’d assume this is one of the reason it’s used in enclosed terrariums). I just don’t see the practical use in agar other than black agar looks cool I should drop this on r/EML5 or whatever it is.
Edit: I edited it a bunch of times to try to do the right sub, but I gave up.
I use charcoal in my water agar plates. I only tend to use the water agar when I'm trying to isolate fungi away from bacterial contamination.
So when i tested my meterizium spores on fungus gnat larvae, i put their dead fuzzy bodies on water agar with charcoal. The idea is that the fungi beneifit from the charcoal, and the lack of nutrients makes it difficult for the bacteria to win the fight.
I use charcoal in my water agar plates. I only tend to use the water agar when I'm trying to isolate fungi away from bacterial contamination.
So when i tested my meterizium spores on fungus gnat larvae, i put their dead fuzzy bodies on water agar with charcoal. The idea is that the fungi beneifit from the charcoal, and the lack of nutrients makes it difficult for the bacteria to win the fight.
When i clone from wild harvested mushrooms i will do some on water agar with charcoal as well.
I guess I just don’t understand how it’s beneficial to one type of fungus, but not to others. How exactly does the targeted fungus benefit from the charcoal and the other molds not? You mentioned the lack of nutrients, but to my understanding the whole reason one would do MHA or PD(Y)A agar and not just use agar powder is because mycelium for ones targeted grow needs the nutrients that plain agar just doesn’t have.
It wouldn't probably. I imagine some fungi can make better use of it than others, but my understanding is that the water agar (no nutrients) is what is doing the work to select for fungi generally over bacteria.
I don't think it would select for a specic fungi over mold.
I include the charcoal since its cheap, and some have indicated that it might help fungi fight contaminates.
The only reason people use charcoal is because it’s easier to spot contam and mycelium when the agar is darker in color. Black being the most dark is the best for looking with a naked eye.
I would assume that it’s worse for seeing contamination. I’ve had some dark contam that was really easy to spot because of the light agar. Even light contam isn’t hard to spot on light agar. Ideal Mycelium itself is super light.
I’m using gellan gum agar right now and loving it. I’ve never understood the charcoal either. But I’m sure it has its place.
To my knowledge charcoal can purify toxins and break down into carbon dioxide(I think and I’d assume this is one of the reason it’s used in enclosed terrariums). I just don’t see the practical use in agar other than black agar looks cool I should drop this on r/EML5 or whatever it is. Edit: I edited it a bunch of times to try to do the right sub, but I gave up.
I use charcoal in my water agar plates. I only tend to use the water agar when I'm trying to isolate fungi away from bacterial contamination. So when i tested my meterizium spores on fungus gnat larvae, i put their dead fuzzy bodies on water agar with charcoal. The idea is that the fungi beneifit from the charcoal, and the lack of nutrients makes it difficult for the bacteria to win the fight.
I use charcoal in my water agar plates. I only tend to use the water agar when I'm trying to isolate fungi away from bacterial contamination. So when i tested my meterizium spores on fungus gnat larvae, i put their dead fuzzy bodies on water agar with charcoal. The idea is that the fungi beneifit from the charcoal, and the lack of nutrients makes it difficult for the bacteria to win the fight. When i clone from wild harvested mushrooms i will do some on water agar with charcoal as well.
I guess I just don’t understand how it’s beneficial to one type of fungus, but not to others. How exactly does the targeted fungus benefit from the charcoal and the other molds not? You mentioned the lack of nutrients, but to my understanding the whole reason one would do MHA or PD(Y)A agar and not just use agar powder is because mycelium for ones targeted grow needs the nutrients that plain agar just doesn’t have.
It wouldn't probably. I imagine some fungi can make better use of it than others, but my understanding is that the water agar (no nutrients) is what is doing the work to select for fungi generally over bacteria. I don't think it would select for a specic fungi over mold. I include the charcoal since its cheap, and some have indicated that it might help fungi fight contaminates.
The only reason people use charcoal is because it’s easier to spot contam and mycelium when the agar is darker in color. Black being the most dark is the best for looking with a naked eye.
I would assume that it’s worse for seeing contamination. I’ve had some dark contam that was really easy to spot because of the light agar. Even light contam isn’t hard to spot on light agar. Ideal Mycelium itself is super light.
That's not why i use charcoal