Question

Give an overview of the major steps in fungal identification.

Answer 1

The conventional method of ECM fungal identification involves noting the morphological characteristics of mushrooms such as their size, color, presence or absence of volva, stipe, ring, scales, reticulum, zonation, striation, warts, cap, areolae, and gills. Transverse sections of the sporocarps are prepared. Mycelial growth and morphology of dried spores are examined microscopically. Fungal hyphae are stained with lactophenol cotton blue solution and observed under microscope and images captured