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. Illustration, variation in colony margins Colony elevation Colonies can vary in their elevations both between microorganisms and growth conditions, and within individual colonies themselves. See illustration below.