What is the cultivation environment?

In general, culture medium is an environment in which microorganisms are allowed to grow. This environment provides conditions for microorganisms to grow well. Culture mediums contain nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, sugars, etc., which are necessary for the growth of microorganisms. Also, the pH of these environments is very sensitive and it is necessary to remain in fixed and specific values.

The cultivation environment has different types, the most important categories of which are listed below:

• Enriching culture medium: rich in nutrients such as vitamins, lipids and amino acids are used for the growth and proliferation of bacteria. This culture medium is used to isolate microorganisms based on their growth in a sample.
• Selective culture medium: It is suitable for the growth of a specific species of bacteria and micro-organisms, so that by having some special compounds, the growth of a group of microbes is prevented and only the desired species grows.
• Differential culture medium: In the differential culture medium, all microbial species are grown and all types of microorganisms can be recognized and separated from each other.
• Transport culture medium: It is used for moving and maintaining a specific type of microorganism.
• Anaerobic culture medium: This type of culture medium is used for the growth of anaerobic bacteria.
• Assay culture medium: cell culture assay is used to check the toxicity of substances on microorganisms.
• and the general/basic cultivation medium, which we will discuss in the following about its types and applications.

What is the general culture environment?

General culture environments are simple environments whose components are usually simpler than other culture environments. These environments do not limit the growth of bacteria and cells, and all kinds of bacteria and cells can grow on them. Also, these environments contain water and nutrients.

General culture mediums are used less for the growth and maintenance of microorganisms, and most of its uses are related to the primary isolation of cells or microorganisms. These culture media do not prevent the growth of any specific type of microorganisms.

Famous public cultivation environments

• Nutrient agar: suitable for bacteria that do not have special growth conditions and grow on the surface and create small colonies. This culture medium remains solid even at high temperatures.
• Nutrient Broth: A liquid culture medium in which microorganisms that do not require specific nutrients can grow. This culture medium is also used as an inoculation culture medium.
• TSA Agar: TSA Agar culture medium is suitable for cultivating all types of aerobic bacteria.
• Blood Agar: A highly nutritious culture medium that is very efficient for microorganisms that are difficult to grow.