Agar is a biological polysaccharide obtained through an extraction process from marine seaweed. The obtained agar is a fine and homogeneous powder. Agar is used in plant tissue culture to bind required nutritional needs into a growth medium for cultivation and development of plants in vitro. Its high binding strength and low amount of minerals provide ideal circumstances for these environments.

The chemical composition of agar is a mixture of two polysaccharides: agarose and agaropectin. Agarose is a linear polymer consisting of repeating units of agarobiose. Agaropectin is a heterogeneous mixture of smaller molecules made up of D-galactose and L-galactose that are modified with side groups. This composition results in agar melting at 85°C and solidifying from 32-40°C, providing a suitable difference between stability and melting.

At Lab Associates we have a number of different agar types in our product offering with characteristics suitable for usage in plant tissue culture. Our current product offering includes the following types:

  • Plant agar
  • Vitro agar A-1
  • Micro agar
  • Vitro agar Europe
  • Vitro tissue agar 1200

We can also offer our customers agars from our suppliers Duchefa and Caisson Labs upon request.

Plants cannot grow in medium without agar or another gelling agent, because the medium would be too thin.

Agar is obtained through an extraction process from marine seaweed. It has a great binding strength and is low in minerals.

Minerals and other nutritions are binded together by agar and therefore, plants like these orchids can grow in medium.

Shop our collection of agars here!