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

Distilled

deionized water

Sucrose

30 g/L

Agar or gelling agent

7–8 g/L

pH meter

Magnetic stirrer and hot plate

Autoclave

Сulture vessels/containers

You will also need 1 M solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) for pH adjustment.

Step 1

Adding MS powder to water

Dissolve Basal Salts

Gently stir 4.5 g Bramble Cay MS powder with ~800 ml distilled water until completely dissolved.

Step 2

Adding sucrose

Add Sucrose

Mix in 30 g/L sucrose. Stir well for a uniformly clear solution.

Step 3

Adjusting solution volume

Make Up Volume

Add distilled water to a total volume of 1 liter and mix thoroughly.

Step 4

Checking pH

Adjust pH

Use a pH meter and 1 N NaOH or HCl to adjust the pH to 5.7–5.8.

Step 5

Agar addition

Add Gelling Agent

Add 7–8 g/L agar (or gellan). Stir until the medium is homogeneous.

Step 6

Dispensing medium

Dispense Medium

Pour the medium into sterile vessels, leaving space at the top for expansion.

Step 7

Sterilizing medium in autoclave

Sterilize

Autoclave at 121 °C for 15–20 minutes to sterilize the medium.

Step 8

Final cooling and supplementing

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.

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This guide was created with care to help you achieve the best results with your plant tissue culture work. If you have any questions or need further assistance, our support team is always here for you — don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we grow better.