The use of psyllium (isubgol) as an alternative gelling agent for microbial culture media

Author: Sahay S.  

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company

ISSN: 0959-3993

Source: World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol.15, Iss.6, 1999-12, pp. : 733-735

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Abstract

Psyllium (Isubgol), the mucilage husk of Plantago ovata, was successfully used as an alternative gelling agent (5% w/v as ground husk for pouring medium and 4% w/v as ground husk in combination with 0.5% w/v agar for slant) for microbial culture. Most of the undesirable features of psyllium-gelled media (slant as well as pouring) were removed by adding the u.v.-treated (20 min) or oven-sterilized (120 ^°C for 1 h) psyllium as ground husk to autoclaved medium at 50–60 ^°C under aseptic condition just before pouring.