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Agarose Medium for Bioassay of Antimicrobial Substances. W. C. Ho, Graduate student, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Hawaii, Beaumont Agricultural Research Center, Hilo 96720; W. H. Ko, professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Hawaii, Beaumont Agricultural Research Center, Hilo 96720. Phytopathology 70:764-766. Accepted for publication 2 February 1980. Copyright 1980 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-70-764.

Seven of eight media-solidifying agents tested contained nutrients sufficient to support spore germination of nutrient-dependent fungi. Agarose at 0.8% did not support germination of nutrient-dependent fungi, but supported complete germination of nutrient-independent fungi. The inhibitory effect of AlCl₃, CuCl₂, and ZnCl₂ on spore germination was greatly reduced in agar, but not in agarose medium. The inhibitory effect of streptomycin and neomycin against bacterial growth in agarose medium also was about the same as that in water. Results show that Sea Kem agarose is an ideal solidifying agent for assaying antimicrobial activity of chemicals.