Ingredients:

  • 1 L distilled water
  • 20 g sucrose
  • 8 g ammonium nitrate
  • 4 g potassium phosphate monobasic
  • 2 g magnesium sulfate heptahydrate
  • 0.5 g iron (III) nitrate nonahydrate
  • 0.5 g manganese sulfate monohydrate
  • 0.5 g zinc sulfate heptahydrate
  • 0.5 g copper sulfate pentahydrate
  • 0.1 g boric acid
  • 2 g gellan gum


Instructions:

  • In a large mixing bowl, dissolve all the inorganic salts (ammonium nitrate, potassium phosphate monobasic, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, iron (III) nitrate nonahydrate, manganese sulfate monohydrate, zinc sulfate heptahydrate, copper sulfate pentahydrate, and boric acid) in 1 L of distilled water.
  • Add sucrose and stir until completely dissolved.
  • Slowly add gellan gum to the salt solution while stirring continuously.
  • Pour the mixture into a sterilized container and autoclave (sterilize) at 121°C for 15 minutes.
  • After sterilization, cool the medium to around 50°C.
  • Pour the cooled medium into sterilized culture vessels.
  • Cap the culture vessels and sterilize the medium again if necessary.
  • Store the culture vessels at 4°C until ready for use.

Why use gellan gum in plant tissue culture?

Gellan gum is a popular choice for plant tissue culture media due to its several advantages over other gelling agents. Here are some of the reasons why plant tissue culture researchers use gellan gum:


  • Neutral pH: Gellan gum has a neutral pH, which does not interfere with the growth or development of plant tissue.
  • Flexibility: Gellan gum forms a flexible gel structure that allows for optimal plant growth and development.
  • Cost-effective: Gellan gum is a cost-effective alternative to other gelling agents such as agar.
  • Ease of use: Gellan gum is easy to use and dissolves quickly, saving time and effort in the laboratory.
  • Biocompatibility: Gellan gum is biocompatible, meaning that it does not have any harmful effects on plant tissue.
  • Reproducibility: Gellan gum provides a consistent gel structure, making it easier to obtain reproducible results in plant tissue culture experiments.


In conclusion, gellan gum is a popular and versatile gelling agent that is widely used in plant tissue culture media due to its several advantages over other gelling agents.