Lab 4 Observing Fungi - forBSEd III-P PDF

Laboratory 4: Investigating Fungi (Mold and Yeast)
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms and include the yeasts, molds and fleshy fungi. Yeasts are
microscopic, unicellular fungi; molds are multinucleated, filamentous fungi (such as bread molds, rusts,
and common household molds); the fleshy fungi such as mushrooms.
All fungi are chemoheterotrophs, requiring organic compounds for both an energy and carbon
source, which obtain nutrients by absorbing them from their environment. Most live off of decaying
organic material and are termed saprophytes. Some are parasitic, getting their nutrients from living
plants or animals.
The study of fungi is termed mycology and the diseases caused by fungi are called mycotic
infections or mycoses.
In general, fungi are beneficial to humans. They are involved in the decay of dead plants and
animals (resulting in the recycling of nutrients in nature), the manufacturing of various industrial and
food products, the production of many common antibiotics, and may be eaten themselves for food.
Some fungi, however, damage wood and fabrics, spoil foods, and cause a variety of plant and animal
diseases, including human infections.
Molds are multinucleated, filamentous fungi composed of hyphae. A hypha is a branching,

tubular structure from 2-10 µm in diameter and is usually divided into cell-like units by crosswalls called
septa. The total mass of hyphae is termed a mycelium. The portion of the mycelium that anchors the
mold and absorbs nutrients is called the vegetative mycelium; the portion that produces asexual
reproductive spores is termed the aerial mycelium
Molds reproduce primarily by means of asexual reproductive spores such as conidiospores,

sporangiospores, and arthrospores. These spores are disseminated by air, water, animals or objects and
upon landing on a suitable environment, germinate and produce new hyphae. Molds may also
reproduce by means of sexual spores such as ascospores and zygospores, but this is not common. The
form and manner in which the spores are produced, along with the appearance of the hyphae and
mycelium, provide the main criteria for identifying and classifying molds.
Rhizopus is an example of a mold that produces sporangiospores. Although usually

nonpathogenic, it sometimes causes opportunistic wound and respiratory infections in the
compromised host. At the end of its sporangiophore is dome-shaped end called a columella that
extends into a sac-like structure called a sporangium. Its sporangiospores, typically brown or black, are
produced within the sporangium. Anchoring structures called rhizoids are also produced on the
vegetative hyphae
Yeasts are unicellular fungi. One of the more well known
characteristics is the ability to ferment sugars for the production of ethanol.
Budding yeast are true fungi of the phylum Ascomycetes, class
Saccharomycetes (also called Hemiascomycetes).
Yeasts are characterized by a wide dispersion of natural habitats.

They are common on plant leaves and flowers, soil and salt water. Yeast are
also found on the skin surfaces and in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, where they may
live symbiotically or as parasites. The common “yeast infection” is typically Candidiasis is caused by the
yeast-like fungus Candida albicans. In addition to being the causative agent in vaginal yeast infections
Candida is also a cause of diaper rash and thrush of the mouth and throat.
Yeast multiply as single cells that divide by budding (e.g. Saccharomyces) or direct division
(fission, eg. Schizosaccharomyces), or they may grow as simple irregular filaments (mycelium).
Objectives:
1. Define mycology and mycosis.
2. State ways fungi may be beneficial to humans and ways they may be harmful.
3. Define the following: hypha, mycelium, vegetative mycelium, and aerial mycelium.
4. Observe mold and yeast microscopically.
5. Recognize and compare the manner of reproduction of mold and yeasts.
Materials:
Prepared slides of yeast Cultured bread mold Microscope & magnifying glass
Inoculating loop Medicine dropper Glass slide and cover slip
Scotch Tape
Procedure:
1. Examine the prepared slide of yeast under HPO.
2. Describe the shape of the yeast organisms.
3. Study the arrangement of a small group of yeast. Sketch the yeast structures that you observe and
label the structures.
4. Observe the mold that you grew with a magnifying glass. Sketch the magnified image.
5. Using an inoculating loop, scrape off a section of the mold and place a tiny amount into a small drop
of water on a slide. Carefully mix the mold on the slide and cover the drop with a cover slip for
viewing through the microscope.
6. Observe the specimen on all magnifications.
7. Using a scotch tape (transparent), press slowly the tape on a culture bread mold then stick the tape
on a glass slide. Try to look for hypa and mycelium under a microscope.
8. Sketch the image you observed under LPO or HPO and LABEL the parts of the molds.
9. Pour on bleach and dispose of all molds.
10. Wash up after everything has been returned clean in place.
Observation:
Name: _____________________________ Date: _________________
Group #:___________________________ Rating: ________________
Macroscopic sketch of cultured mold
Mold specimen Yeast specimen

Magnification: ______________ Magnification: ______________
Microscopic sketch of mold and yeast
Questions:
1. What is mycology? _________________________________________________________________
2. What is mycosis? __________________________________________________________________
3. State at least 3 ways fungi may be beneficial to humans and three ways they may be harmful.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. How new yeast organisms are formed? _________________________________________________
5. What internal structures, if any can you see in the yeast? __________________________________
6. Distinguish the difference between a hyphe and mycelium.
__________________________________________________________________________________
7. Compare vegetative mycelium from aerial mycelium.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion:
Molds and yeast are both fungi. What do they have in common? How do they differ?

Lab 4 Observing Fungi - forBSEd III-P PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lab 4 Observing Fungi - forBSEd III-P PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lab 4 Observing Fungi - forBSEd III-P PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Laboratory 4: Investigating Fungi (Mold and Yeast)

Molds are multinucleated, filamentous fungi composed of hyphae. A hypha is a branching,

Molds reproduce primarily by means of asexual reproductive spores such as conidiospores,

Rhizopus is an example of a mold that produces sporangiospores. Although usually

Yeasts are characterized by a wide dispersion of natural habitats.

Macroscopic sketch of cultured mold

Mold specimen Yeast specimen

Microscopic sketch of mold and yeast

You might also like