Identifying Moulds A Practical Guide

About this book

Language: English

Identifying moulds is an introduction to the procedures to be followed for the identification of the most common and important genera of moulds. This first English edition is based on the third German edition of Schimmelpilze und deren Bestimmung by the same authors. It has been revised and updated. Identification keys were expanded to include dermatophytes and some clinically important, opportunistic mould genera.

The authors present the fundamentals of mycology and fungal taxonomy necessary to understand and use the methods described. Keys allowing the identification of the most common mould genera are included, with reference to more specialized identification literature, and a glossary of the most relevant mycological terms is also provided. The morphological characters typical of the different fungal groups are outlined and should facilitate the use of the keys.

Identifying Moulds: A Practical Guide focuses on genera that are frequently found in the environment, are common plant pathogens, involved in food spoilage, or may be isolated from human and animal tissues as opportunistic pathogens.

No previous knowledge of fungi is expected. Very basic information on mycology, concise descriptions of taxonomic schemes, of the methods to be used for identification of fungi, practical information on culture media as well as some ad vice for handling moulds and elementary safety issues are provided. An outline of the significance of fungi for public health and an extensive bibliography rounds up Identifying Moulds: A Practical Guide.

Identifying Moulds: A Practical Guide may be useful to all students, health authorities, built environment biologists and evaluators, and lab technicians. It aims to help finding a way in the complicated taxonomic world of microscopic fungi.

Contents

I. INTRODUCTION 1

1. Of fungi and man 1

2. How to use this book 3

II. FUNDAMENTALS OF MYCOLOGY 5

1. What are fungi? 5

2. Morphology and reproduction 6

2.1 Vegetative organs 6
2.1.1 The thallus 6
2.1.2 Vegetative structures 7
2.2 Reproductive organs 10
2.2.1 Asexual reproduction 11
2.2.2 Sexual reproduction 12

III. TAXONOMY 15

1. Phylogenetics, systematics, classification, taxonomy 15

2. The 7 kingdoms and the new fungal taxonomy 15

3. Protista and Chromista 17

3.1 Oomycota 17

4. Fungi 18

4.1 Zygomycota 18
4.1.1 Zygomycetes 18
4.2 Ascomycota 19
4.3 Basidiomycota 20
4.3.1 Ustilagomycotina (smuts) 20
4.3.2 Pucciniomycotina (rusts) and Agaricomycotina (mushrooms) 21
4.4 Anamorphic fungi (mitotic fungi) 21

5. Polyphasic Taxonomy 22

IV. THE IDENTIFICATION OF MOULDS 25

1. General considerations 25

2. Morphological characteristics 25

3. Chemotaxonomic and molecular biology techniques 25

V. WORKING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MOULDS IN PURE CULTURE 27

1. General comments 27

1.1 Observation of morphological features 27
1.2 Identification by means of (dichotomous or synoptic) keys 28
1.3 Safe handling of moulds 28

2. Microscopy 29<7b>

2.1 Direct microscopy 29
2.2 Pure cultures 29

VI. CULTURE AND MOUNTING MEDIA 31

1. Culture media 31

2. Mounting media 33

3. Fluorescence microscopy 33

3.1 DAPI nuclear staining 33
3.2 Cell wall staining with calcofluor 33

VII. MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS 35

1. Zygomycota 35

2. Teleomorphic Ascomycota 38

3. Anamorphic Ascomycota and Basidiomycota 40

3.1 Conidiogenesis 41

4. Spores: colour and shape 46

5. Conidial chains 47

VIII. IDENTIFICATION KEYS 49

1. Identification of moulds sporulating in pure culture 49

2. Identification of moulds: decision tree 50

3. Main key 51

3.1 Zygomycota (Mucorales, Mortierellales, Zoopagales) 52
3.2 Ascomycota 58
3.3 Anamorphic Ascomycota and Basidiomycota 66
3.3.1 Coelomycetes 66
3.3.2 Hyphomycetes 68

IX. COMMON MOULD GENERA 89

X. GLOSSARY 137

XI. ECOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF FUNGI 153

1. Direct detection in environmental samples 153

2. Isolation in pure culture 153

2.1 Dilution series 153
2.2 Baiting 153
2.3 Single spore cultures 154
2.4 Surface sterilisation of plant tissues 154

3. Adaptation of fungi to the ecosystem 154

3.1 Temperature requirements 154
3.2 Light requirements and adaptation 155

4. Morphological and physiological adaptation 155

XII. MOULDS AND HEALTH 157

1. Mycotoxins 157

1.1 Introduction 157
1.2 Mycotoxin detection 159

2. Health hazards caused by mycotoxicoses 159

3. Mycoses 161

3.1 Hypersensitivity reactions 161
3.2 Mycoses 162

XIII. REFERENCES 165

XIV. INDEX 183

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