BREAD MOULD LAB REPORT

A fungus (plural fungi) is a member of a large of eukaryotic organisms that includes

microorganisms such as yeast and mold, as well as more familiar mushrooms. It is a stationary,
heterotrophic eukaryotic organism whose cell walls contain chitin. The basic structural unit that
makes up the body of the multicellular fungus are called hyphae. In a mushroom, the hyphae are
densely packed in tight mass and difficult to see as separate structures. The bulk of the organism
is in the form of a branching network called mycelium (plural mycelia). Mycelia live in soil and
other nutritious substances, such as living, dying, or dead wood and animal bodies. The part of
the fungus that you see above the ground is the reproductive structure which is called a fruiting
body.
Most animal consume food and then digest it. Fungi do the opposite, they release the
enzymes that breakdown food externally. Many fungi have both asexual and sexual methods of
reproduction. Asexual reproduction in fungi can be by spore production by mitosis. Some
unicellular yeasts use budding. This involves a smaller cell that develops while attached to the
parent cell. The smaller cell is eventually pinched off of the parent cell to produce a new
individual. In sexual reproduction of a fungus, it consists of two nuclei in specialized hyphae
fuse. It grows into mushroom and sexually produced spores that formed on the inside of the gills.
When the spore matures, the mushroom opens up and releases its spores to the wind with up to 2
billion mushroom. Each spore grows into a genetically different mycelium that carries either
positive or negative information. However, there are also importance of fungus, it can be used as
decomposers that recycles dead organisms that can fertilized the soil and also use for breaking
down toxic waste. Some species produce antibiotics like Penicillium to fight against bacterial
infection. Fungi are also a food source like mushrooms- a source of vitamin D and it also use for
making blue cheeses. Yeast is commercially used to make bread, beer and wine.
PROBLEM
1. To observe how bread mold grows.
2. To observe the faster growth of mold in a different conditions of bread:
a. Bread sprayed with water
b. Bread sprayed with white wine
HYPHOTHESIS
Since white wine is also a product of fungi, this will permit more molds into the bread.
PROCEDURE
1. Sliced of bread: the crust was removed.
2. The bread was cut into two pieces (not necessarily equal, but formed like a square).

3. The small slices were sprayed with water and the other were sprayed with white wine.
4. The two pairs of sliced bread were separated into transparent plastic bags and sealed (1
bag per pair), to easily observe the growth of mold.
5. It was placed into a box and placed in a 30-35 degree Celsius environment.
DATA
Table 1.1: Slice 1 Sprayed with Water
DATE
April

Number
of
spots

DESCRIPTION

Structure

Color

Slice 1
Location

Diameter

20th

No change

No change

None

none

21st

No change

No change

None

none

22nd

No change

No change

None

none

23rd

Fine hair-like

white

One spot at the middle

White hair 0.2cm

Measured at the middle

24th

Fine hair-like

Black, surrounded
with white

One spot at the middle

Block hair 0.1

White hair 0.5cm

25th

Fine hair-like

The same spot

26th

Fine hair-like

27th

Fine hair-like

28th

Fine hair-like

Black, surrounded
with white
Black, surrounded
with white
Black, surrounded
with white
Black hair bigger
White hair gone

Block hair 0.6cm

White hair 1.4cm
Block hair 1cm
White hair 1.6cm
Block hair 1.5cm
White hair 2.0cm
Block hair 2.5 cm
White hair gone

29

Fine hair like

Black hair bigger

White hair gone

The same spot

The same spot
The same spot

The same spot

Block hair 3.3

Fine hair-like

Block hair, with the

edges of yellow color

The same spot

Block hair
3.3cm

31

Fine hair-like

Block hair, with the

edges of yellow color

The same spot

Block hair 3.5

Fine hair-like

Block hair, with the

edges of yellow

The same spot

Block hair 3.4cm

Fine hair-like

Block hair, with the

edges of yellow color

The same spot

4.00cm

30

Table 1: Slice 2, Sprayed with Water

Table 2: Two Slices Spayed with White Wine
DATES
April
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29

Number of
Spots

DESCRIPTION(slice 1 and 2)

NO CHANGES
AT ALL

RESULTS
Based on the table 1.1: Slice 1 Sprayed with Water, form the 20 of April to the 23, there
were no changes appeared on the bread, but on the 24 of February, there is 1 spots that are
white, fine hair-like in structure, the spot is located on the middle of the bread with 0.2 cm in
diameter, measured with the ruler. On the 25of April, the spots turned to black, surrounded with
white hair-like structure w 1 cm in diameter, measured with the ruler and the 2 nd spot was located
on the 2nd face of the bread on the lower right with now 0.6 cm in diameter, measured with the

ruler and the added spot was on the lower right with 0.5 cm. on the 23 rd of February, 1 spot grew
again located on the 1st face of the bread on the upper left with 0.3 cm.
Based on the Table 1.2: Slice 2 Sprayed with Water, , form the 14th of February to the 20th,
there were no changes appeared on the bread, but on the 21st of February, there was spot that is
white, fine hair-like in structure, with 0.7 cm on the lower left part of the bread. On the 22 nd, the
spot turned into black and surrounded with white hair-like structure and it grew up to 1.7 cm on
the same location. On the 23rd, there was no new changes appeared.
Based on the table 2:Bread of Two Slices Sprayed with White Wine, there were no
changes occurred at all from the 14th of February to the 23rd.
Comparing all the tables, it shows that bread mold grew faster on the sliced of bread
sprayed with water than the one sprayed with white wine. Water permits the growth of mold
because mold has to have moisture in order to grow and because it was sealed the moisture didnt
evaporate. Therefore the moisture is a great factor that contributes the fast growing of mold. On
the other hand, White wine, even though it is a product of fungi, it still contained some
preservatives in it like sulfur oxide and ascorbic acid to ensure that wine remains stable and taste
clean, fresh and palatable for its entire lifetime and these preservatives are substances that may
be added to wine as a protection against oxidation and bacterial spoilage.

CONCLUSION
Therefore, based on the experiment done, the growth of bread mold was well observed
from its first day of growth 24st of February until the may 2rd which is the last day of observation.
It was then proven that mold will grow up faster with the presence of moisture of the bread
sprayed with water than the one sprayed with wine. The moisture contributes a fast growth of
mold while the preservatives in the wine inhibit the growth of molds into the bread. So, to
prevent food from mold, it would be better to keep it out or away from a moisture area that will
permit the possible growing of molds. According to the United States Department of Agriculture,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, some molds cause allergic reactions and respiratory
problems. A few molds, in the right conditions produce mycotoxins, poisonous substances that
can make people sick if ever mold was eaten. It is advisable then not to eat moldy food for the
assurance of a healthy diet.