TYPES OF CULTURE MEDIA

TYPE

PURPOSE

Chemically defined

Growth of chemoautotrophs and photoautotrophs, and microbiological assays.

Complex

Growth of most chemoheterotrophic organisms.

Reducing

Growth of obligate anaerobes.

Selective

Suppression of unwanted microbes; encouraging desired microbes.

Differential

Differentiation of colonies of desired microbes from others.

Enrichment

Similar to selective media but designed to increase numbers of desired microbes to detectable levels.

   Return to Lecture

   Return to Lecture List