Urease production

Purpose

To determine if bacteria produces urease

Ingredients

Ingredient	*800 mL*	*400 mL*
NH4H2PO4	0.5 g	0.25 g
K2HPO4	0.5 g	0.25 g
MgSO4 • 7H2O	0.2 g	0.1 g
NaCl	5.0 g	2.5 g
Yeast extract	1.0 g	0.5 g
Cresol red	16.0 mg	8.0 mg

| Urea stock solution-filter sterilize

Ingredient	*180 mL*
Urea	20 g

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients except urea to water
2. Autoclave and cool to 50-55°C
3. Add 200 mL of urea stock solution
4. Disperse 5 mL into test tubes

Notes

• Make some tubes without urea as a control
• Inoculate tubes and place on shaker. Incubate at 28°C
• Color change to red (ph appx. 9.0) indicates urease activity

References

• Schaad, N.W. 2001. Laboratory Guide for the Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 3rd Edition. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN. (pp 6, 47)

Contributed by

From the University of Florida Plant Disease Clinic-GNV System Manual: originally created by Anne Vitoreli; contributed by Anne Vitoreli.