Baichi (culture medium)

Term: Baichi (培地) Baichi, or culture medium, refers to a liquid or solid substance used to cultivate microorganisms. It is also called a "culture base" (培養基, baiyoki), and it provides the nutrients and environment that microorganisms need to grow. In general, a liquid medium is called a "liquid medium" (液体培地, ekitai baichi) and a solid medium a "solid medium" (固体培地, kotai baichi). The components of a medium vary depending on the type of microorganism and the purpose, but they include carbon sources, nitrogen sources, vitamins, minerals and the like, which promote the healthy growth of microorganisms. In this way, culture media play a very important role in microbiological research and in the production of fermented foods.