Sigma-Aldrich™ Phytagel™ BioReagent, suitable for plant cell culture, powder

Sigma-Aldrich™ Phytagel™ is a premium-quality gellan gum-based gelling agent designed as a superior alternative to agar for plant tissue culture, micropropagation, and plant cell culture applications.

Produced through controlled bacterial fermentation, Phytagel™ forms a clear, colorless, high-strength gel, making it especially valuable in plant biotechnology laboratories where medium transparency is critical for:

• Visual monitoring of root development
• Detection of microbial contamination
• High-resolution observation of plant tissue growth

Phytagel™ is widely recognized as a highly consistent and reproducible agar substitute, particularly suitable for demanding tissue culture protocols.

Key Features and Benefits

Superior Agar Substitute for Plant Tissue Culture

Phytagel™ is specifically intended to replace agar in plant culture systems, offering:

• Improved gel clarity
• Stronger and more uniform gel structure
• Enhanced reproducibility between batches
• Reduced impurities compared to standard agar

It has been shown to outperform tissue-culture-grade agar in the micropropagation of banana plantlets and other sensitive plant systems.

Clear, Colorless Gel for Easy Contamination Detection

Unlike traditional agar, Phytagel™ produces a highly transparent gel, enabling:

• Early detection of bacterial or fungal contamination
• Improved visibility of roots and explants
• Cleaner imaging and phenotyping in plant assays

This makes it ideal for research requiring precise observation.

High Gel Strength at Low Working Concentrations

Phytagel™ is effective at relatively low concentrations:

• 1.5–2.5 g/L for plant tissue culture media
• Up to 10 g/L for microbiological applications

This efficiency can reduce material usage while maintaining strong gel integrity.

Cation-Dependent Gelation for Controlled Media Formulation

Phytagel™ requires the presence of cations, particularly divalent ions, for gel formation:

• Calcium (Ca²⁺)
• Magnesium (Mg²⁺)

Most standard plant tissue culture media already contain sufficient levels of these ions. However, low-salt microbiological media may require supplementation with salts such as:

• CaCl₂
• MgSO₄

This provides flexibility for optimized gel performance across different formulations.

BioReagent Grade Quality for Sensitive Applications

Phytagel™ is supplied as a BioReagent, ensuring suitability for:

• Plant cell culture
• Tissue culture research
• Agricultural biotechnology
• Controlled growth media preparation

Applications

Sigma-Aldrich™ Phytagel™ has been widely used in:

Plant Tissue Culture & Micropropagation

• Root induction media
• Shoot culture and regeneration
• Explant propagation systems

Plant Research Assays

• Arabidopsis root growth assays
• Plant developmental studies
• Sterile culture plate experiments

Agrobacterium and Transformation Workflows

• Solid Paul’s medium for Agrobacterium culture
• Plant genetic engineering protocols

Agricultural Biotechnology

• Commercial plant propagation
• Crop improvement research

Product Specifications

Composition and Characteristics

Phytagel™ is a fermentation-derived polysaccharide composed of:

• Glucuronic acid
• Rhamnose
• Glucose

It forms a high-strength gel matrix ideal for supporting plant tissues.

Preparation Guidelines

To ensure optimal performance:

1. Add Phytagel™ slowly to rapidly stirring medium to prevent clumping
2. Heat the medium to dissolve completely
3. Ensure sufficient calcium or magnesium ions are present for gelation
4. Dispense into culture vessels under sterile conditions

Available Pack Sizes (Ordering Information)

Unique Advantages

• Premium agar substitute for plant tissue culture
• Produces clear, colorless, high-strength gels
• Enhances contamination detection and root visibility
• Works efficiently at low concentrations
• Consistent BioReagent quality from Sigma-Aldrich™
• Ideal for micropropagation, transformation, and plant research

Sigma-Aldrich™ Phytagel™ is a highly reliable gelling agent for plant tissue culture and agricultural biotechnology, offering superior clarity, strength, and reproducibility compared with agar. It is an essential component for laboratories performing sensitive plant cell culture, root assays, and micropropagation workflows.