New technique for mass assays of physiological characteristics of unicellular algae.

An apparatus is described and illustrated which enables an investigator to inoculate simultaneously a large number of unicellular algal suspensions onto an agar surface. These inoculations may be repeated an indefinite number of times with a very small amount of inoculum. Good results have been obtained from tests in which large numbers of algae were placed onto selective media containing various amounts of many antibiotics, growth factors, sugars, etc.