unknown microorganisms

[md0]

Hello everybody,

After an unsuccessful attempt at growing some plants from seeds (the pots were forgotten for about two months) I've noticed two interesting colonies of what I thought were fungi.
However, under the microscope, the green one (picture u1_1) appeared to be made of of clumps of some unicelular organisms (picture u1_2), while the white one (picture u2_1) of some larger (about 10um across) multicellular microorganisms (pictures u2_3 & u2_4).

Can anyone help me identify these? Thank you!

[SunshineLW]

The segmented structures appear to be some form of conidia. Because of their source and morphology (concurrent longitudinal and transverse septa), I'd guess that they are dictyospore conidia of an environmental fungus. Their morphology does not closely resemble any of the yeast forms commonly found on animals.

I do not recognize the round structures, but it is possible that they are the most immature stages of conidia, freshly released from the conidiophore. These immature conidia may undergo germination, developing into the segmented conidia, which will then develop hyphae with fruiting conidiophores.

However, it is possible that the round organism and segmented conidia are two separate organisms.

Image source: What is Science Magazine <http://virtual-light.com/spore-formation/>

[75RR]

Here is a link to a booklet on Mold Fungi that I came across when I was trying to ID some spores that you might find interesting.


https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/12103892.pdf

[md0]

Thank you SunshineLW and 75RR, it looks like it was a fungus after all, and the two may even be the same species - some of the smaller organisms interspersed between the large spores looked suspiciously similar to the ones in the first colony, even though they look very different at our scale. I was put off by the looks of the spores (almost larvae-like), but he hyphae underneath should have given a hint that it's the same species. I'll definitely hold on to the fungus guide, it's very informative!

[coominya]

Here is a link to a booklet on Mold Fungi that I came across when I was trying to ID some spores that you might find interesting.


https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/12103892.pdf

Thanks 75, another one for the archive. Just in case

[desertrat]

Thanks for the ID and the link. There a few of those in some permanent slides I made of the surface film of a hay infusion.

[coominya]

Thanks for the ID and the link. There a few of those in some permanent slides I made of the surface film of a hay infusion.

That's got me thinking... I have a big rotten pile of hay in the back yard, where would be the best place to take a sample and how would I prepare it? Should I for example take some hay stalks from the middle of the pile and drop them in a small amount of pure water for half an hour to lure out the microbes?

[75RR]

Should I for example take some hay stalks from the middle of the pile and drop them in a small amount of pure water for half an hour to lure out the microbes?

Needs a little longer:

http://www.microbehunter.com/making-a-hay-infusion/

[BrantleyIV]

The larger spores are Alternaria. As for the smaller ones, I can't be sure and I would not want to guess incorrectly!