CANDLE METHOD FOR CULTIVATION OF ANAEROBIC BACTERIA

This method is based on a lighted candle placed in a jar tightly sealed with vaseline. When candle stops burning, it shows that the oxygen has been used and anaerobic condition created. 

Requirement 

Candle 

Match box 

Bacterial culture 

Bell jar 

Nutrient agar plates 

Procedure 

(i) Streak the culture on the surface of solid nutrient agar in two Petri plates. 

(ii) Keep one plate out side and the second inside the jar. 

(iii) Place a candle inside the jar and wait for some times. The candle will stop burning due to absence of oxygen and production of CO2 . This method is recommended for the growth of Neisseria. For most of the organisms, however, this method is considered too toxic due to production of carbon dioxide as a result of burning the candle. 

(iv) Observe the growth of bacteria and compare the results with the plate kept out side. 

Results 

If the bacterium is aerobic, induced growth in the plate kept out side will be observed as compared to the bacterial growth in plate kept inside the jar. On the other hand, if the bacterium is anaerobic, induced growth in culture kept inside the jar will occur as compared with that of out side bacterial culture.

Reference:

Dr. R. C. Dubey – Practical Microbiology