Karo syrup is a popular choice for making liquid culture broth for mushroom cultivation and mycology. It is a thick, sweet syrup that is made from corn syrup and is widely available in many parts of the world.
The Karo LC recipe produces a clear solution which allows the mycelium to be easily observed while it grows, a feature often sought after by mycologists.
Karo Liquid Culture tek is easy to sterilize and is a good source of nutrients for mycelium, making it an ideal choice for a LC recipe.
To ensure purity of the culture before inoculation you will need to sterilize it, so if you don't have a pressure cooker checkout my post on the best pressure cookers for mushroom cultivation.
Whether you are an experienced mycologist or just getting started in the field, this recipe is a simple and effective way to cultivate a wide variety of mycelium in the laboratory or at home.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the ingredients and materials needed, as well as step-by-step instructions for making Karo Liquid Culture.
Karo Liquid Culture Recipe
The recipe for KARO liquid culture generally consists of a 4% ratio of karo-to-water.
A teaspoon of Karo weighs around 4 grams, so it is possible to do 1 teaspoon per 100ml of water.
However, it is always best to use a scale to accurately measure ingredients whenever possible.
The Karo LC recipe is outlined in the table below:
| Water | Karo | Ratio (% Karo) |
|---|---|---|
| 100ml | 4g | 4% |
| 200ml | 8g | 4% |
| 300ml | 12g | 4% |
| 400ml | 16g | 4% |
| 500ml | 20g | 4% |
Step-By-Step Instructions For Making Karo Liquid Culture.
The basic steps are outlined below:
- Mix 4% Karo into hot water and stir.
- Sterilize the Karo/Water mixture in a jar
- Inoculate jar of mixture with mycelium
- Wait for the mycelium to grow.
Ingredients and Materials Needed:
- Karo syrup.
- Water (preferably distilled).
- Liquid Culture.
- Mason jars (I like to use recycled jars for this).
- Stirring rod & Stirring plate.
- Butane torch ( best item for flame sterilising syringe).
- Pressure cooker (checkout the best pressure cookers for mushroom cultivation).
- Digital Scales.
- Alcohol
- Micropore tape or Gas Exchange lids.
Step 1 – Create Karo / Water Mixture.
- I measure out the desired amount of KAro and water. For every 100ml of water, you will need 4g of KAro. I will be using 16g of Karo and 400ml of water.
- Mix the karo and water together until the Karo is fully dissolved in the mixture.
- Place a stirring rod inside the mixture (optional).
- Place the lid on the jar.
- Create a small hole in the lid using a screwdriver or similar.
- Place two sheets of micropore tape over this hole.
- Wrap the lid in tinfoil and secure with an elastic band.
Step 2 – Sterilize Jars.
- I place my jars into my pressure cooker and sterilize for 30-40 minutes at 15psi. I will be using my presto 23 Qt pressure cooker for this.
- Allow the pressure cooker to cool for several hours before continuing to the next step. I usually leave my cooker overnight just to be sure.
Step 3 – Inoculate Karo/Water Mixture.
- Remove jars from the pressure cooker.
- Wipe the lid of each jar with alcohol wipes.
- Shake the needle to spread out the mycelium.
- Flame sterilize the needle until it is glowing red.
- Inject 1cc of liquid culture into each jar using the flame sterilized needle.
- Cover the injection site with micropore tape, I do this as I'm pulling the needle out.
- Place the jars in an incubation area with a temperature range of 18-20°C (64-68°F) for optimal growth.
Step 4 – Wait.
Generally colonization can take around 14 days.
Place your jar on the stirring plate and wait for it to colonize, if you don't have a stirring plate then just give it a whirl around once a day being careful not to hit the lid.
Advantages of using Karo for Liquid Culture.
There are several benefits to using Karo syrup as a medium for making liquid culture broth in mycology:
- Karo syrup is a simple, inexpensive, and readily available source of nutrients for mycelium.
- It is easy to sterilize and has a long shelf life, making it convenient to use in a laboratory setting.
- Karo syrup provides a consistent, nutrient-rich environment for the growth of mycelium, which can help improve the success rate of a liquid culture.
- Karo syrup is also a good source of energy for mycelium, which can help promote healthy growth and reproduction.
- Karo is a clear liquid which means a mycologist can observe its growth and spot contamination easily.
- Finally, Karo syrup is less viscous than other types of sugar, making it easier to inject into a jar or petri dish.
