Hi pahioman,
Here are many sites that can assist you with your science project:
How to grow mold from bread:
http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/b/bread/bread.html
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Projects/PSO/Lessons/mold.htm
"Fungi reproduce by producing spores. These are tiny cells inside a
protective coating, which grow into new Fungi. Some fungi can survive
times when the weather turns hot and dry, by producing protective
coatings for their spores."
http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/biodiversity/crypfungi.html
"Spore Formation: Spores form on the ends of some hyphael cells. The
formation of spores is dependent on a variety of environmental factors
including light, oxygen levels, temperature, and nutrient
availability.
Spore Dispersal: After the spores are formed, they are released into
the air and carried elsewhere to begin the process of germination and
growth all over again. Mold spores are highly resistant and durable.
They can remain dormant for years in even hot and dry environments.
Spore Germination: Once the spore is dispersed to a new area and when
the appropriate conditions exist, moisture and nutrient availability,
the spore will begin to germinate into a new hyphael cell."
http://www.toxic-black-mold-info.com/moldbkgrd.htm
"What is the best food for molds?
Most molds grow well on things like bread that has no preservatives,
old coffee-grounds, orange rinds, old fruit (not bananas). Cheeses
which are made with molds, such as Brie, Camebert, or true blue
cheese, will grow out their molds when left in a warm, moist
environment that has fresh air. Wet paper products, such as cardboard,
or materials high in cellulose, such as wet hay or grass also will
grow molds well.
Molds must have a moist environment to grow, with lots of fresh air.
Molds will be overcome by bacteria growth if you put them in a plastic
bag with no fresh air. Molds also need some light to produce their
spores. Most molds do not grow well at very cold or very hot
temperatures. Molds like a slightly acid environment, around pH=5.5 to
6.
Many times preservatives are added to bread and other foods to keep
mold and other organisms from growing. Check the labels of the breads
you use to see if they have preservatives. If preservatives are
present, mold will not grow very well or not at all.
How do molds reproduce?
Usually when the food supply is used up, molds produce upright
structures which are full of spores. The upright structures are called
conidiophores, and the spores are called conidia. Several types of
spores are produced. Dry spores fly off when air currents disturb
them. Wet spores are usually moved by small insects, animals, or even
raindrops. Some very special spores are produced inside of water
bubbles by molds which reproduce under water - the spores have arms
which stick out on all sides, similar to toy jacks. These arms get
caught in the water surface, and with wave action a bubble forms
around the arms of the spore. You can capture these often beautiful
spores by collecting the foam that collects in streams during the fall
- this foam is full of those spores.
How do I know what mold I have?
Molds can only be positively identified with a microscope.
Bluish-green to green molds are usually Penicillium or Aspergillus.
Black to brown-black molds can be Aspergillus niger, Alternaria
alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, or
Stachybotrys chartarum (a highly toxic mold). Reddish or pink molds
are usually species of Fusarium.
http://www.seps.org/cvoracle/faq/mold.html
http://www.motthall.org/intro/cur/herzog/science2000/mold/mold.htm
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bio99/bio99540.htm
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artapr05/bdfungi.html
If you have a petri dish with agar, you can use a damp Q-tip to swab
areas mentioned on this page, and then roll the swab over the agar,
and incubate.
http://www.toxic-black-mold-info.com/findmold.htm
Toxic black mold
http://doityourself.com/mold/blackmold1.htm
http://www.alumni.ca/~dieh4v0/project_info.htm
Onions and garlic often have a black mold, Aspergillus niger:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r584100411.html
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1996/3-15-1996/mold.html
http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/nav/messages/mold/m3.html
Pear mold
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/SOAR/SciProj2004/ColinA.html
About black mold
http://www.moldetect.com/black-mold.htm
http://theforagerpress.com/bookstore/blackmold/moldfaq.htm
See all kinds of mold spores on this page
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&q=+mold+spores&btnG=Search
How to prepare a science project
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html
Good luck with your science project!
Please ask for an Anser Clarification, before rating, if this is not
the information you were seeking.
Regards,
Crabcakes
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