sterile sand or agar?

Subject: RE: BRYONET: sterile sand?
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 13:59:05 -0500
From: Ford, Heather <HFord@danforthcenter.org>
To: 'bryonet-l@mtu.edu' <bryonet-l@mtu.edu>

BRYONET

Hi,

Just a thought...but if you are interested in nutrient deficiencies why not
grow plants axenically on agar? This way you will be able to create a more
contolled nutient environment for your experiements and you won't have to
worry about contamination. A water-based agar would work because there are
no nutrients added, i.e. Phytogel. The only problem is you will need
access to growth chambers. Another possibility is to grow the plants in an
inert substance like perlite, vermiculite. You could grow the plants
hydrponically and provide your nutrients in sterilized distilled water.
Someone out there may have further suggestions/ideas. I would take a look
at papers describing nutrient deficiency expeiments in vascular plants and
see what they do. Hope this helps!

Good Luck!

Heather

Heather Gerhard
Plant Cell Microscopist
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Integrated Microscopy Facility
975 Warson Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
P: 314.587.1263
F: 314.587.1361
email: hford@danforthcenter.org
www.danforthcenter.org

> ----------
> From: kmwerner@mtu.edu
> Reply To: bryonet-l@mtu.edu
> Sent: Thursday, July 3, 2003 11:59 AM
> To: bryonet-l@mtu.edu
> Subject: BRYONET: sterile sand?
>
> BRYONET
>
> Hello,
> My name is Karla Werner. I am currently working on my masters in bryology
> and am going to be studying the effects of nutrient deficiencies in
> Fissidens. In order to do so, I need to grow the moss on a medium that
> has no nutrients. If you have a suggestion or know where I can buy
> sterile sand, please let me know.
> Thank you.
>