690 FUNGI 



Certain species of Mucor which appear incapable of attacking 

 uninjured ripe fruits, frequently obtain an entrance into the latter 

 by wounds and bruises, and then cause rottenness and decay. 

 As a damp and warm atmosphere favours the development of 

 these destructive fungi, it is important to store fruit in cool dry 

 places. Every effort should also be made to prevent bruising, 

 and in order to minimise the risk of a ' mouldy ' specimen spread- 

 ing the infection to its neighbours, fruit of high value should be 

 wrapped singly in tissue-paper before being packed or stored. 



Ex. 278. — Soak a slice of bread in water and place it under a bell jar on 

 wet blotting-paper ; leave until mouldy. Various species of fungi make 

 their appearance. Look especially for Mucor Mucedo, known by its round 

 sporangia, which look like small pin-heads on the ends of thin white stalks. 



When obtained, take up with fine pointed forceps a very small portion of 

 the bread with mould on it, and transfer to a drop of water on a slide. Cover 

 with cover-slip, and examine the hyphse in the substance of the bread and the 

 erect hyphae bearing the sporangia. 



Fig. 231.— Moist chamber for observing the germination and growth of 

 spores m hangmg-drops. b, cardboard with circular hole punched in it 

 restmg on ordmary glass slide. B, section of A with cover-slip (c) and 

 hangmg-drop (r) in position. 



The sporangia, with ripe spores in them, burst immediately when placed 

 in water. 



Examine the oval spores with a high power. 



To see the spores within the sporangia, take the hyphae bearing them with 



