Hi, I would like to know what is the most efficient way to observe the spores of Ganoderma ? I have tried a few method to collect the spores from Ganoderma but sometimes the microscopic view is not really good. Appreciate for advice on this matter. Thanks.
Dear Lee
Polypores are fungi whose sporocarps are perennial, so they grow a bit every year. As a consequence, much of its hymenia (tissue that produce spores) is old and do not have spores any more. You have to take tissue from the pores near the margin, there is where spores should be.
The microscopic study of fungi relays in a series of techniques from preparing slices, mounting, staining, microscopy, etc. All of them can be learn in the book "How to identify mushrooms to genus III: microscopic features" by Largent, Johnson and Watling
matured Ganoderma spores are often deposited on the top of the fruiting body following air-flow.
Though Ganoderma species do not have fleshy fruiting bodies like Pleurotus, Agarics species etc. Spore print could still be done when the lower part of pileus is press hard on white plain paper. Alternatively a small tissue could be cut from the lower part of the pileus for culturing in a suitable medium for it starts develop to a stage where some spores could be released in the medium. Moreover since basidiospore of Ganoderma is double layered and as both Zheng and Roberto suggested you also need to their suggestions also
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