I am worried that If we isolate thermophilic bacteria on agar medium, it needs to incubate at high temperature (>50 degree C). At such temperatures, the agar is going to melt or soften. How can we prevent this? Is there a need to change the composition of the medium or do we need to add something to prevent the melting/softening of the agar?
Agar can stay firm up to 65 C, the melting point of agar is 85 C. Based on my experience, you can use 2.5% agar, this will keep the agar from breaking due to dehydration.
As alternative to agar you might use GELRITE. It is available from Sigma. A (somewhat older) publication retated to the topic: Lin and Casida (1984) Applied and Environmental Microbiology 47:427
Additional info: check www.carlroth.com/media/_de-de/usage/0039.pdf for some technical details on the use of GELRITE.
Agar can stay firm up to 65 C, the melting point of agar is 85 C. Based on my experience, you can use 2.5% agar, this will keep the agar from breaking due to dehydration.
This is a common problem which has been solved since long. Go to the internet and look for solid media for thermophilic bacteria
Gellan also used. But if you try under 60 degree, agar is enough. Should be seal petri dish. Dehydration is most severe problem.
You can also do one thing. In the agar medium ypu can use extra agar i.e. about 3 - 3.5%. And for every petri plate pour around 25 ml of medium ie. make it thick. Then it will not melt very soon..
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