Bacterial colony: refers to visible mass of bacteria
arising from 1 cell or from a group of same bacteria.
Cultural characteristics of bacteria
i. Agar plates – Size: described whether its large, medium etc. Colonies vary from pinpoint (less than 1mm), moderate (1mm- 5mm) to as large (5mm-10mm) in diameter.
*NOTE: colonies that are not well separated should not
be measured or taken into account as this can’t give true measurements. – Form: refers to the shape of the colonies from punctiform, circular, filamentous, irregular, rhizoid, spindle. • Circular: unbroken • Irregular: indented – Elevation: flat, raised, convex, pulvinate, umbonate • Flat: not distinguishable • Raised: distinguishable • Convex: dome- shape • Umbonate/ papillate: raised w/ elevated convex central region – Margin: Refers to side or the periphery: entire, undulate, lobate, erose, filamentous. • Entire: even • Undulate: wavy indentations • Lobate: marked indentations • Erose/ Serrated: • Filamentous
– Optical features: opaque, translucent, opalescent. Iridescent and colored
white & golden yellow: Staphylococcus gray: Enterococcus Buff: Diptheroids
ii. Agar slant evaluation of growth is along the line of inoculation in the following manner. a) Abundance of growth: Designated as small, moderate or large b) Optical features: evaluated as transparent, translucent or opaque c) Pigmentation: similar in plates d) Form: designated as
o Filiform: continuous threadlike growth with smooth
egdes. o Echinulate: continuous threadlike growth with irregular edges. o Beaded: blob or string of pearls, or droplet colonies. o Effuse: thin spreading growth pattern o Arborescent: treelike growth o Rhizoid: rootlike growth iii. Agar butt: evaluation of growth is observed in the inoculation area & the entire media consistency in the following manner: a) Amount: same with slant b) Form: same with slant c) Consistency: same with slant d) Liquefaction: o Crateriform: saucer shaped at liquid surface area o Infundibuliform: Funnel shaped o Saccate: Tubular shaped, elongated o Stratiform: complete liquefaction of the upper half medium e) Optical features: same with slant f) Gas production: bubbles formation iv. Broth medium: evaluation is done by observing the consistency of the liquid medium in the following manner: a) Uniform fine turbidity: well dispersed growth b) Surface: o Flocculent: flaky aggregates o Pellicle: thick padlike growth c) Subsurface: turbid, granular d) Amount: scanty, moderate, abundant e) Sediment: growth conc. at the bottom of the tube: granular, flocculent, viscid, flaky.