Apothecium
An apothecium is a fungal structure that rises from a sclerotium, which is utilized by the pathogen for survival. Apothecia are cup shaped and they have fungal spores that line the inside of their structure. Sclerotia can range in color from light brown, red, to black. This group of students made a model of a sclerotium with three apothecia cups.
Brown Rot of Peach
Brown rot is a big disease problem in peaches in the southeast U.S. This individual chose to model several parts of the apothecium, which is a fungal reproductive structure produced from peach mummies left in the orchard. They started with the dried peach mummy that had been previously infected by the pathogen. Mummies are a type of sclerotium that form when infected fruit are colonized by the pathogen, dry up, and fall to the ground. The student made a model of the mummy with an emerging apothecia. Each separate model is a closer look at the apothecium. The second model is a cross-section of the apothecium, followed by an individual ascus containing ascospores. The last model is of a single ascospore.
Chasmothecia
Chasmothecia are fungal reproductive structures produced by powdery mildew pathogens. They are closed structures, dark in color when they mature, and can be identified to genus based on their appendage morphology. This group of students made models of chasmothecia, each with different appendage types.
Powdery Mildew
Fungi known as powdery mildews can infect many plant species. Fungal hyphae, which look like fine white strings, and spores can be seen on the surface of plant leaves. Powdery mildews form a fluffy white mass on host tissues. This student made a model of a powdery mildew leaf infection.
Sclerotium rolfsii
Sclerotium rolfsii is a fungal pathogen with a wide host range. This fungus utilizes sclerotia as overwintering strutures. Sclerotia are small, light brown spheres that are commonly found around the base of an infected plant. This student modeled the pathogen colonizing a hosta.
Teaching Portfolio of Kestrel McCorkle 