This is a firm medium that keeps well and makes a good base for egg collecting. Wrap filled petri dishes and store at 4-- 14oC (they should keep for at least 6 weeks). Substitute molasses for the corn syrup if you prefer a dark medium, or add food coloring. This recipe makes about 60 6 x 2 cm plates.
| Water | 2.25 | liters |
| Agar | 88 | grams |
| Light corn syrup | 350 | milliliters |
| 10% p-Hydroxy-benzoic acid methyl ester in 95% ethanol | 38 | milliliters |
- Mix water, agar and syrup.
- Boil until agar is dissolved.
- Cool for 5 minutes or more, stir in p-Hydroxy-benzoic acid methyl ester.
- Dispense into petri dishes.
- Agar
- The amount of agar should be determined empirically for your brand of agar. We buy 100 lb. barrels (~$1,295) from Moorhead & Co., Inc., 6923 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91406.
- Corn Syrup
- We use Karo® light corn syrup (about $8.40 per gallon through our campus food services).
