TYPES OF CULTURE MEDIA

TYPE

PURPOSE

Growth of chemoautotrophs and photoautotrophs, and microbiological assays.

Complex

Growth of most chemoheterotrophic organisms.

Reducing

Growth of obligate anaerobes.

Selective

Suppression of unwanted microbes; encouraging desired microbes.

Differential

Differentiation of colonies of desired microbes from others.

Enrichment

Similar to selective media but designed to increase numbers of desired microbes to detectable levels.