THE SPREAD PLATE AS A METHOD FOR THE ENUMERATION OF MARINE BACTERIA1, 2

Abstract

A comparison was made of agar plates spread with glass rods and poured agar plates for the enumeration of bacteria in the waters of Fisher’s Island Sound, salinity 30‰. Spread plates were shown to be markedly superior. Highest counts were obtained by spreading, using rods treated with Desicote (a silicone solution) and incubating plates at 25°C, rather than at 16°C, and in air rather than in air with CO 2 content increased.