An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark
Abstract Premise Traditional moist chamber cultures (MCs) prepared in aseptic laboratory environments using sterile Petri dishes are commonly used to quantify the microbiota of rough‐bark tree species and woody vines. MCs are typically expensive and may be difficult to make, so a less expensive opti...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Applications in Plant Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.11578 |
| _version_ | 1797202615995465728 |
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| author | Ashley P. Bordelon Harold W. Keller Angela R. Scarborough |
| author_facet | Ashley P. Bordelon Harold W. Keller Angela R. Scarborough |
| author_sort | Ashley P. Bordelon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Premise Traditional moist chamber cultures (MCs) prepared in aseptic laboratory environments using sterile Petri dishes are commonly used to quantify the microbiota of rough‐bark tree species and woody vines. MCs are typically expensive and may be difficult to make, so a less expensive option made from easily available supplies was developed. These cost‐friendly MCs were compared with standard laboratory methods to demonstrate their efficacy. Methods and Results Modified MCs were made using inexpensive, store‐bought supplies; compared to a standard laboratory setting, the modified MCs are shown to be less expensive with a faster setup time and larger size that facilitates a variety of tree and woody vine species. MC use resulted in the discovery of new species of fungi and myxomycetes with associated locality records. We provide detailed instructions for creating modified MCs, as well as a list of myxomycete species and their associated bark characteristics, pH values, and water‐holding capacity. Conclusions This new, low‐cost MC technique makes the study of microbiota more inclusive and accessible for those in research laboratories, classrooms, and homes, including both amateurs and professionals. MCs are easy to prepare, versatile, and applicable for many areas of botany and the biological sciences, potentially allowing exploration into unexplored areas in urban ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:06:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-938a91fe41e045e59d21a95cc75d8692 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2168-0450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:06:16Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applications in Plant Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-938a91fe41e045e59d21a95cc75d86922024-04-17T09:56:36ZengWileyApplications in Plant Sciences2168-04502024-03-01122n/an/a10.1002/aps3.11578An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree barkAshley P. Bordelon0Harold W. Keller1Angela R. Scarborough2Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1700 University Drive Fort Worth 76107 Texas USABotanical Research Institute of Texas 1700 University Drive Fort Worth 76107 Texas USAIndependent researcher Kailua‐Kona Hawaii USAAbstract Premise Traditional moist chamber cultures (MCs) prepared in aseptic laboratory environments using sterile Petri dishes are commonly used to quantify the microbiota of rough‐bark tree species and woody vines. MCs are typically expensive and may be difficult to make, so a less expensive option made from easily available supplies was developed. These cost‐friendly MCs were compared with standard laboratory methods to demonstrate their efficacy. Methods and Results Modified MCs were made using inexpensive, store‐bought supplies; compared to a standard laboratory setting, the modified MCs are shown to be less expensive with a faster setup time and larger size that facilitates a variety of tree and woody vine species. MC use resulted in the discovery of new species of fungi and myxomycetes with associated locality records. We provide detailed instructions for creating modified MCs, as well as a list of myxomycete species and their associated bark characteristics, pH values, and water‐holding capacity. Conclusions This new, low‐cost MC technique makes the study of microbiota more inclusive and accessible for those in research laboratories, classrooms, and homes, including both amateurs and professionals. MCs are easy to prepare, versatile, and applicable for many areas of botany and the biological sciences, potentially allowing exploration into unexplored areas in urban ecosystems.https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.11578biodiversityfungimyxomycetesslime moldsurban ecologyvideo |
| spellingShingle | Ashley P. Bordelon Harold W. Keller Angela R. Scarborough An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark Applications in Plant Sciences biodiversity fungi myxomycetes slime molds urban ecology video |
| title | An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark |
| title_full | An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark |
| title_fullStr | An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark |
| title_full_unstemmed | An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark |
| title_short | An inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark |
| title_sort | inexpensive moist chamber culture technique for finding microbiota on live tree bark |
| topic | biodiversity fungi myxomycetes slime molds urban ecology video |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.11578 |
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