Class XI Practical: Morphology - Preparation of Temporary Slides of Mucor / Rhizopus

Objective

To prepare and observe temporary microscopic slides of the fungi Mucor or Rhizopus.

Guidelines

1. Culture Preparation: Obtain a culture of Mucor or Rhizopus (commonly found on stale bread).
2. Slide Preparation:
   • Place a drop of lactophenol cotton blue stain on a clean glass slide.
   • Gently touch a sterile needle to the fungal growth to pick up some mycelia and sporangia.
   • Transfer the fungal material to the stain drop and gently tease it apart with needles to spread it.
   • Carefully lower a coverslip over the preparation, avoiding air bubbles.
3. Observation: Observe the slide under a compound microscope at low and high power. Identify key structures such as hyphae, sporangiophores, sporangia, and spores.
4. Drawing: Draw neat, labeled diagrams of the observed structures.

Expected Outcome

Successful preparation of a temporary mount and identification of the characteristic morphological features of Mucor or Rhizopus.