Rust fungus (Gymnosporangium sp.)

[kit1980]

Rust fungus (Gymnosporangium sp.) on a fruit, 2x objective, bounced light from ping-pong ball half, stack of ~40 photos:



Unstained spores (aeciospores), 100x objective, bright field illumination:



Spores in lactophenol cotton blue, 100x objective, oblique illumination (notice light-blue stained spore "shells" that are almost invisible without staining):



Empty spore "shells" (probably immature spores), 100x objective, oblique illumination:

[hkv]

Wow! First one is amazing! Well done

[75RR]

Great work Striking image!

I am curious as to the fruit - was it a prune, grape or some sort of berry?

[billbillt]

Incredible images!... The first one is a knock-out!.. You have proved the worth of the ping pong ball trick..

BillT

[kit1980]

Thanks for your comments!

I am curious as to the fruit - was it a prune, grape or some sort of berry?

It's very immature, I'll check the trees after some time. I suspect it's a crabapple.

[JimT]

Really like the first image and convinces me to cut a ping pong ball in half.

Hope you didn't eat it.

[jimur]

Have to agree. You really nailed that first image. I would never have guessed crab apple however.