MS Medium Preparation Guide
Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium is the most widely used plant tissue culture medium in modern plant biotechnology. Originally formulated in 1962 by Toshio Murashige and Folke Skoog, it was designed to support rapid cell division and organogenesis in tobacco tissue cultures. Today, MS medium is considered the gold standard for a wide range of plant species and applications.
Materials & Equipment
Bramble Cay MS medium powder |
Distilleddeionized water |
Sucrose30 g/L |
Agar or gelling agent
7–8 g/L |
pH meter
|
Magnetic stirrer and hot plate |
Autoclave
|
Сulture vessels/containers |
.png)
.png)
Dissolve Basal Salts
Gently stir 4.5 g Bramble Cay MS powder with ~800 ml distilled water until completely dissolved.
Add Sucrose
Mix in 30 g/L sucrose. Stir well for a uniformly clear solution.
Make Up Volume
Add distilled water to a total volume of 1 liter and mix thoroughly.
Adjust pH
Use a pH meter and 1 N NaOH or HCl to adjust the pH to 5.7–5.8.
Add Gelling Agent
Add 7–8 g/L agar (or gellan). Stir until the medium is homogeneous.
Dispense Medium
Pour the medium into sterile vessels, leaving space at the top for expansion.
Sterilize
Autoclave at 121 °C for 15–20 minutes to sterilize the medium.
Cool & Finalize
Allow to cool; if necessary, add heat-sensitive supplements at 45–50 °C under sterile conditions.
Tips for Best Results
- Dissolve all salts fully before adjusting pH.
- Avoid overheating agar or sugar to prevent caramelization.
- Weigh gelling agents accurately for consistent texture.
- Store ready medium at 4 °C for up to 4 weeks.
- Use half-strength MS for sensitive cultivars or seeds.
- Add activated carbon if needed for phenolic secretions.