Tissue culture concepts
Media recipes and additives
Media recipes in xPlant document tissue culture formulations and keep media context connected to culture work. Link a recipe to a Plant or Explant, and record a Media Recipe on a Transfer when applicable, so the formulation used can be reviewed alongside culture history.
Why documented recipes matter
Formulation traceability
When reviewing culture performance, you can look up the recorded tissue culture media formulation and reuse or compare it in later batches.
Shared team knowledge
Recipes can be shared with team members using team visibility, while private recipes remain private. This keeps reusable formulations available at the appropriate workspace scope.
Variant tracking
When formulation fields are edited, xPlant creates a new recipe version. Existing Explant recipe links keep the version that was current when they were created, so later edits do not rewrite that recorded formulation context.
Tracing outcomes to media
Link a recipe to an Explant and record the recipe used on Transfers so media formulation context can be reviewed alongside Stage history, observations, and contamination records.
Creating a recipe
Go to Dashboard → Media and select New Recipe. Build your formulation by adding Components one by one. Each Component can record a name, quantity, unit, and concentration, with separate fields for target pH, sterilization, storage, usage, and general notes.
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Recipe Title | Use a descriptive name, such as MS Half-Strength Rooting Medium |
| Components | Add each ingredient or formulation component by name |
| Quantity / unit | Record the amount and unit for each Component |
| Concentration | Record an optional concentration when relevant |
| Target pH | Record the target pH used for the formulation |
| Sterilization | Record relevant sterilization or filter-sterilization context |
| Storage | Record how the prepared medium is stored and any relevant storage notes |
| Usage | Record stages, species, vessel types, or other intended-use context |
| Notes | Add any other formulation or preparation context |
Additive types
xPlant records media ingredients as flexible Components rather than a fixed additive taxonomy. The categories below are common in plant tissue culture and can help you document Components consistently across recipes.
| Category | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plant growth regulators | BAP, IBA, IAA, NAA, 2iP, TDZ, kinetin | Record concentration (mg/L or μM) and supplier details when relevant |
| Vitamins and amino acids | Thiamine (B1), nicotinic acid, glycine, myo-inositol | Often included as part of a standard vitamin formulation |
| Carbon sources | Sucrose, glucose, fructose | Record concentration in g/L |
| Gelling agents | Agar, Phytagel, Gelrite, agarose | Record concentration as % or g/L |
| Supplements | Activated charcoal, casein hydrolysate, coconut water | Record concentration and intended purpose |
Linking a media recipe to culture work
Link a Media Recipe to an Explant when you want a formulation associated with that culture record. When recording a Transfer, you can also select a Media Recipe so the medium used for that subculture is stored with the Transfer.
xPlant versions recipe formulation changes. Explant recipe links store the recipe version that was current when the link was created, so later edits do not retroactively replace that linked formulation context.