Detailed visualisation of hyphal distribution in fungal mycelia growing in heterogeneous nutritional environments

Ritz, K., Millar, S. M. and Crawford, J. W. (1996) Detailed visualisation of hyphal distribution in fungal mycelia growing in heterogeneous nutritional environments. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 25(1), pp. 23-28. (doi: 10.1016/0167-7012(95)00077-1)

Abstract

A technique is described which enables high resolution images of the distribution of individual hyphae within fungal mycelia to be obtained, when the fungi are growing in nutritionally heterogeneous environments. The basis of the technique is to project colonies grown on the surface of cellulose membranes onto high contrast film using a photographic enlarger. Heterogeneity of nutrient resources is controlled by overlaying the membrane onto the surface of a box designed to hold disposable pipette tips, where the holes designed to hold the tips have been filled with gels of contrasting nutrient status. The effect of regular and irregular patterns of relatively high and low nutrient status gels upon development of single mycelia of Trichoderma viride and Rhizoctonia solani is shown. The technique can readily image mycelia up to 30 cm2 whilst still permitting resolution of individual hyphae where nutrient supply is sufficiently low to result in low hyphal densities.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Crawford, Professor John
• Authors: Ritz, K., Millar, S. M., and Crawford, J. W.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
• Journal Name: Journal of Microbiological Methods
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0167-7012
• ISSN (Online): 1872-8359