Fungus Growth on Foods
Objective: To culture and observe the germination of fungal spores and to examine the structure of fungi.
| bread | petri dishes |
| fruit | microscope slides |
| potatoes | forceps |
| rice | eye dropper |
| paper towel | compound microscope |
| binocular microscope |
Procedure
1. Obtain three petri dishes and line the inside with paper towel. Replace the cover immediately to minimize contamination by airborne spores.
2. Using an eye dropper, moisten the foods with water but do not soak. Allow the food to stand for 15 minutes. If you wish, you can cough on the food, scatter some dust on it, or wipe it across the bench.
3. Place one food type on the wet paper towel in each dish. Tape the top and bottom together so that they cannot be opened during the culture period.
4. Store in a cool, dark location for 3-5 days.
5. Prepare a data table to record the growth of the fungi on each food type. Include observations such as colors, physical appearance, size of colony, variety, etc.
6. DO NOT OPEN THE PETRI DISH. Examine with the binocular microscope and make a drawing. You should label sporangium, stolon, rhizoids, fruiting body, spores, hyphae.
7. From the prepared slide, make a drawing using the compound microscope. You should label sporangium, stolon, rhizoids, fruiting body, spores, hyphae.