SPECIMEN PREPARATION FOR HIGH-CONTRAST IMAGE-PROCESSING AND FRACTAL ANALYSIS OF BRANCHING FUNGAL COLONIES

A rapid method is Presented for the aerosol dispersion of fungal spore s onto microporous polycarbonate membrane overlays in petri-dish agar culture, using an air-brush apparatus. Nebulizer inoculation results i n the growth from single spores of discrete, filamentous colonies whic h can be immobilized, fixed, and stained in situ using Coomassie Brill iant Blue R. High contrast microscopy and image-processing is facilita ted using Poretics Cyto-Clear(TM) glass slides. This technique was dev eloped specifically for the fractal analysis of branching and the meas urement of other morphological parameters in fungi. Emphasis is direct ed towards the ligninolytic fungi, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Phanero chaete chrysosporium.