A rapid and improved technique for scanning electron microscopy of actinomycetes

•We report a simple and rapid method for preparation of actinomycete cultures for SEM.•Actinomycete cultures were grown on glass wool, a chemically inert support.•No chemical fixatives or dehydrating agents were used.•Cultures were dehydrated by lyophilization.•High resolution SEM images of Streptomyces spp. were obtained.

A simple and rapid method for the preparation of actinomycete cultures before scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is reported. Streptomyces strains were grown in starch casein broth with sterile glass wool as support. The cultures were dehydrated by lyophilization eliminating the use of chemical fixatives and dehydrating agents.