Microscopic Worlds Gallery: Fascinating Fungi

Plant Pathogen

fungi in petri dish

(Image credit: Louis de Vos | professeur de l'Université | Université libre de Bruxelles)


Penicillium italicumis another plant pathogen. It grows as a blue mold and loves to feed on citrus fruits — you may have seen it sprouting on spoiled tangerines.

Funky Spores

fungi in petri dish

(Image credit: Jubal Harshaw | shutterstock)


The above microscopic photo shows a sporangium, or structure in which spores form, containing a fungus spore of the genus Rhizopus, fungi that can often be spotted on old bread and fruit.

White and Fluffy

fungi in petri dish

(Image credit: moomsabuy | shutterstock)


This "snowball scene," shows bacteria, yeast and mold growing in an agar plate. Yeast is a unicellular fungus that can grow on food or human skin because it only requires warm temperatures, moisture and food in the form of starch or simple sugars to multiply.

Root Rot Fungus

fungi in petri dish

(Image credit: Damian Herde | shutterstock)


The Bipolaris sorokiniana fungus can be found in soil and causes various plant diseases. It is a common source of root rot in wheat crops worldwide.

Fungal Landscape

fungi in petri dish

(Image credit: Brian Maudsley | shutterstock)


This microscopic view shows the volcano-like surface of a mold of the Penicillium genus growing on the surface of a decaying lemon.

Macro Mold

fungi in petri dish

(Image credit: moomsabuy | shutterstock)


The above magnified photo shows multi-hued mold colonies thriving in agar plates.

Remy Melina was a staff writer for Live Science from 2010 to 2012. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Hofstra University where she graduated with honors.