Stephanie Harper
Bio373 Mycology
Pure Culture Identification Blog
Possible ID: Rhizopus stolonifer
Classification:
Phylum: Zygomycota
Class: Mucoromycotina
Order: Mucorales
Family: Mucoraceae
Isolation and Culturing Methods:
This culture was isolated from an agar plate growing various molds from a rotting wood sample. Specimen was allowed to grow in malt extract agar + chloramphenicol (MEA+C) for one week at room temperature, then hyphae that were not threatened by contamination were moved to a new sterile MEA+C plate and allowed to grow for another week.
Culture Appearance on Growth:
In the agar plate, hyphae and sporangium are visible to the naked eye, a dense tangle of protrusions to the lid of the plate. Stolons 15 to 20 um in diameter converge into rhizoids with diameters up to 50 um. Vertical striations can be seen on the larger rhizoids.
Spore Production:
Only empty sporangium linings and a few scattered spores were observed. Sporangiospores are approximately 8 to 12 um across, ovate-polygonal in shape, light brown, and striated.
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