BIOLOGY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT - Mold Growth

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My Sincere efforts have made me to accomplish the task

of completing this project. I have taken effort in this
project. However, it would not have been possible
without the kind support and help of many individuals.
I owe my heartfelt and sincere gratitude to my BIOLOGY

TEACHER for her kind co-operation and guidance.
I am very much thankful to CBSE authorization for their

idea about the project for me to come across so many
facts I wasn’t aware of. Finally, I would like to thank my
parents, friends & team members for their continued
support and coordination in this project.
GOWRI SADHANA SURESH

XI-F
HOW DOES MOLD GROW?
AIM: To find out which food will grow the most mold? The least?
Why? Which environment has the greatest mold growth?
THEORY: Mold is a fungus that needs nutrients and water to grow.

Mold can be found indoors and outdoors all over the world. Most are
non-toxic, but they certainly aren't good to eat! Mold can grow on
surfaces like rocks and walls, but in homes it commonly grows on aging
food. Many foods, especially bread, contain mold inhibitors and
preservatives to prevent mold from growing quickly. Many food
industries depend on molds to produce food materials like soy sauce,
country curd ham, certain types of cheese, etc. They need to know the
favorable conditions for fast culture. On the other hand, there are other
food industries that take measure to preserve the produce from molds.
They utilize the knowledge of the unfavorable situations of infestation.
Molds are a natural part of
the environment and can
be found almost anywhere
that moisture and oxygen
are present. They belong
to the kingdom Fungi and
live in moist places such
as soil, plants and dead or
decaying matter.
Outdoors, molds play a
part in nature by breaking
down dead organic matter
such as fallen leaves, dead trees and other debris; however, indoors mold
growth should be avoided.
Molds are beneficial to
the environment and are
needed to break down
dead materials. Very tiny
and lightweight, mold
spores travel easily
through the air. Most
building surfaces can
provide adequate
nutrients to support the
growth of mold. They are
microscopically small plant-like organisms, composed of long filaments
that grow over the surface of and inside nearly all substances of plant,
food, dry leaf, or animal origin. They can be easily identified by the
dusty little spots that spread over bread, cheese, books, and other things
in the home
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Plastic zip-lock bags
2. Knife
3. Labeling tape and marker
4. Two or three types of food (such as greens, bread, meat, cheese,
fruit, etc.) (Here I have taken tomato and bread.)
5. Notebook and pen or pencil
6. Spray bottle
7. Water
8. Cooking pan, toaster oven, oven or other cooking device.
9. Camera (optional)
PROCEDURE:
 Select different types of
foods to test. (preferably 2)
 Cut out samples from each.

You will need 9 samples
from each type of food.
 Take 3 samples from each

type of food and cook them.
How might this condition
affect how mold grows on
the food?
 Take 3 samples and slightly

spray them with water.
 Take 3 dry samples. Place all the samples in zip-lock bags

and seal it. Label each zip-lock bags appropriately with the
type of food, the conditions and the type of environment.
 Take place one

cooked, one dry, and one
wet sample for each type
of food in the refrigerator.
 Take place one

cooked, one dry, and one
wet sample for each type
of food in a dark place like
a cupboard or a dark room.
 Take place one cooked, one dry, and one wet sample for each
type of food outside in a sunny warm spot.
 Monitor your samples regularly and note down the
observations.
RESULTS: AFTER A WEEK
DRY SAMPLE KEPT IN A DARK ROOM
COOKED SAMPLE KEPT IN A DARK ROOM

DRY SAMPLE PLACED OUTSIDE IN A SUNNY WARM SPOT
WET SAMPLE KEPT IN A DARK ROOM

WET SAMPLE PLACED IN THE FRIDGE
WET SAMPLE PLACED OUTSIDE IN A SUNNY WARM SPOT

WET SAMPLE PLACED IN A DARK ROOM
WHY?
Mold will grow in places with a lot
of moisture, such as around leaks
in roofs, windows, or pipes, or
where there has been flooding.
Mold grows well on paper
products, cardboard, ceiling tiles,
and wood products. Mold can also
grow in dust, paints, wallpaper,
insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric,
and upholstery. Mold require moisture, warmth, and a food source. So,
standing water in a warm location for an extended period can provide an
ideal environment for mold growth. Then, items such as paper water
filters and deposits inside pipes can be enough of a food source to kick-
start and sustain a colony of black mold in pipes. This can occur in areas
such as basements, bathrooms
(particularly in shower drains), or
rooms with leaky pipes or roofs.
Mold can also grow on constantly
damp or wet surfaces, such as
shower curtains, bath mats, or
carpeting. Mold is found both
indoors and outdoors, and can
grow on almost any substance
when moisture is present. They reproduce by spores, in which their
molecules are carried by air. It can enter your home through open
doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems.
Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, and pets
can and be carried indoors. When mold spores drop on places where
there is excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in
roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or where there has been flooding, they
will grow. When spores land on a moist surface suitable for life, they
begin to reproduce.
OBSERVATION
OBSERVATION ON MOLD GROWTH
s.no Type of sample Place Mold growth
In the fridge Almost no mold
growth
1. Dry sample In a dark room Little mold growth
seen after a week
In a sunny spot Little mold growth
seen after a week
In the fridge No mold growth
2. Cooked sample In a dark room No mold growth
In a sunny spot No mold growth
In the fridge No mold growth
3. Wet sample In a dark room Maximum mold

growth seen in a week
In a sunny spot Little mold growth
seen after a week
RESULT
Maximum mold growth was seen in wet samples placed in a dark room
after a week whereas little mold growth was seen in wet sample placed
in the fridge and a sunny spot and little mold growth was noticed in dry
samples placed in a sunny spot and a dark room as well on contrast to
this no mold growth was seen in the cooked samples placed in various
places even after a week.
CONCULUSION
Wet samples will grow
the most mold, while
cooked samples will
grow the least mold.
Samples left in the sun
will grow the most mold,
while refrigerated
samples will grow the
least mold.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. https://www.1000sciencefairprojects.com/Biology/Investigatory-Project-of-
Biology.php
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold
3. https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm#:~:text=Mold%20will%20grow%20in
%20places,carpet%2C%20fabric%2C%20and%20upholstery.
4. https://jenkinsenvironmentalservices.com/how-when-and-where-mold-
occurs/

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My Sincere efforts have made me to accomplish the task

I owe my heartfelt and sincere gratitude to my BIOLOGY

I am very much thankful to CBSE authorization for their

GOWRI SADHANA SURESH

THEORY: Mold is a fungus that needs nutrients and water to grow.

 Cut out samples from each.

 Take 3 samples from each

 Take 3 samples and slightly

 Take 3 dry samples. Place all the samples in zip-lock bags

 Take place one

 Take place one

DRY SAMPLE KEPT IN A DARK ROOM

COOKED SAMPLE KEPT IN A DARK ROOM

WET SAMPLE KEPT IN A DARK ROOM

WET SAMPLE PLACED OUTSIDE IN A SUNNY WARM SPOT

3. Wet sample In a dark room Maximum mold

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