Pouring a plate A pour plate is a method of melted agar inoculation followed by petri dish incubation. Instead of embedding microorganisms into agar, as is done with the pour plate method, liquid cultures are spread on the agar surface using a devise that looks more or less like a hockey stick. The stabs are incubated until visible cultures form, then sealed and stored at room or lower temperature. Slant method Cultures may be streaked onto the surface of the solid medium in a slant tube. The slants are incubated until visible culture formation then sealed and stored at room or lower temperature.
Cultures are first frozen and then dried under high vacuum.
To revive cultures they are rehydrated by broth . Lyophilization can be an effective long term method of storage. Freezing can be an effective long term method of storage. Type of margin Colonies can vary in the shape of their margins. See illustration below.