Question

Why is using too much bacteria not good for streak, pour, and spread method? What can ir cause to each one? And how much is enough? What is the difference between them?

Answer 1

We should not use too much bacteria for streaking, pouring or spread plating technique to prevent overcrowding or too much competition for nutrient media among the growing bacterial cells. Moreover in spread plate or streak plate we want to isolate or grow single colonies for use in future experiments. So if too much bacteria is used they will overcrowd the media and it will create a smear.

So only little approximately 100 -150 ul of bactetial culture for every 100 ml of nutrient media