Mannitol salt agar (MSA) only allows the growth of halophile…
Mannitol salt agar (MSA) only allows the growth of halophiles. Among the halophiles, mannitol fermenters release acid that turns the pH indicator yellow; mannitol nonfermenters leave the medium red. Onto MSA you inoculate a halophilic mannitol fermenter and a nonhalophilic mannitol nonfermenter. You see growth on only one of the plates. Given this scenario, the MSA acts as a _____ medium.