Cup-shaped fungal spores??

PeteTheBloke · #1 (**permalink**) 30-09-2011, 05:27 PM

I have a new microscope (yippeee).

I've been collecting spores to examine and I'm gradually getting the hang of it.

The book I usually use for fungus ID is by Michael Jordan, and he lists spore
shapes with little diagrams; but I've found a spore that seems to fall outside
the list. It's from (I think) a Cortinarius species and it is round, warty and
bowl shaped - a bit like a hemisphere with a concave on the side that would be flat
(sorry - no camera fitting yet).

Does that sound right? And what name does this shape get, please? And does
Cortinarius sound right? It was on a grassy, roadside bank in N. Ireland; dark
brown 10cm cap; rust coloured spore powder; adnate, fairly crowded brown gills;
bluntly-umbonate cap expanding and turning upwards at edge; flesh pale, almost
white.

Lancashire Lad · #2 (**permalink**) 02-10-2011, 01:55 PM

Hi,

Were these spores freshly dropped? - or had they been standing for some time and allowed to dry?, and are you viewing them dry?

I've recently been looking at spores from mature slime moulds that have been allowed to dry - and, (although they might be warted, granular, smooth, etc. etc.),they almost always seem to have the bowl shape that ypou mention.

However, when immersed in a drop of water, they almost immediately regain their normal shape.

Regards,
Mike.

PeteTheBloke · #3 (**permalink**) 02-10-2011, 03:58 PM

Good thinking Mike. I expect that's exactly what has happened.
I've glued a coverslip over these ones, but I might have some extra
ones that I can "re-hydrate". I'll report back if anything changes.

Do you think Cortinarius sounds OK, or is there not enough to go on?

PeteTheBloke · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2011, 08:37 AM

Yep. Nail on the head, I think. Thanks.

What's the best way to mount permanent slides of spores then?

Lancashire Lad · #5 (**permalink**) 04-10-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteTheBloke

Yep. Nail on the head, I think. Thanks.

What's the best way to mount permanent slides of spores then?

Hi Pete,

As I understand things, archival type permanent mounts aren't generally made of fungal spores.

Mycologists tend to use voucher material from herbariums, and rehydrate the spores as and when they are being viewed.

I'm not certain, but I would imagine that spores in a normal aqueous mount, sealed with proprietary ringing cement (or something like clear nail varnish etc.) should last for at least a few years.

It might be useful to contact a company like Brunel Microscopes (who sell all sorts of microscopy reagents and accessories) and ask their advice.
From my experiences of dealing with them, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to explain how best to proceed.

Regards,
Mike.

PeteTheBloke · #6 (**permalink**) 04-10-2011, 01:26 PM

Thanks Mike.

I got my microscope from Brunel and I can vouch for their service.

I had read that permanent fungal slides are not usually made, but I will
persevere with my efforts for now. There must be a way!

I'm not much good at sectioning plant material, and I want to have something
to put into my "slides box".

Lancashire Lad · #7 (**permalink**) 04-10-2011, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteTheBloke

...I'm not much good at sectioning plant material, and I want to have something
to put into my "slides box".

Try a bit of DIY with something like this: -
DIY Microtome

I was quite satisfied when I thought of this idea. - The difference it makes to sectioning thin and fragile fungi gills is quite impressive. (Should also work for plant stems etc. etc.).

Regards,
Mike.