B. Sc.

IN AGROTECHNOLOGY (HONS) AGRONOMY (AT222)

FACULTY OF PLANTATION & AGROTECHNOLOGY
UiTM CAWANGAN MELAKA

AGR 554
PLANT PATHOLOGY

PRACTICAL 2
COLONIES OF COMMON FUNGI AND BACTERIA

GROUP MEMBERS:

NAME ID NUMBER
MUHAMMAD HIDAYATULAH BIN HUSIN 2022912871
NASRUL SYAZWADI IQBAL BIN NASRUL 2022736439
MUHAIMIN
MOHAMAD HAFIZAN BIN HANIPHA 2022931247
FAZRIEN AFIF BIN ZAINURIN 2022930435
FAYBIE BUNGIN ANAK FREDDIE 2022793579

SUBMITTED TO:
DR NURAINI MOHD NOOR
INTRODUCTION

Microbial communities are ubiquitous in nature, thriving in diverse environments ranging from soil
and water to the human body. Within these communities, fungi and bacteria play pivotal roles in
nutrient cycling, decomposition, and overall ecosystem function. Understanding the composition and
dynamics of these microbial populations is essential for elucidating their ecological significance and
potential applications in various fields, including agriculture, medicine, and environmental
remediation.

OBJECTIVES

1. To observe different types of fungi and bacteria colony on agar media

2. To observe fungi structure under microscope

MATERIALS

• Fungi cultures (PDA) such as Colletotrichum, Aspergillus and Fusarium species

• Bacteria cultures
• Light microscope
• Slides and cover slip
• Lactophenol
• Distilled water
• Inoculating needle

PROCEDURE
1. Observed and Recorded Different Types of Fungi Colonies:

 Inoculated samples containing fungal spores or mycelium onto agar plates.

 After an incubation period, observed the colonies formed by various fungi species.
 Recorded observations included:
 Color: Noted the color of the colonies, ranging from white, cream, yellow, green, blue,
brown, to black.
 Pigmentation: Determined if there were any distinct pigmented areas within the
colonies.
 Size: Measured the diameter of the colonies using a ruler or caliper.
 Margin/border – the edge of a colony. What is the magnified shape of the
 Surface – how does the surface of the colony appear? For example, smooth, glistening,
rough, wrinkled, or dull.

2. Took Small Parts of the Fungus Structure from Actively Growing Areas and Observed Under
Microscope:
 Carefully removed a small part of the fungus structure (such as hyphae or mycelium) from
each colony.
 Prepared slides with the fungal samples and observed them under a microscope.

3. Recorded the Shapes of Fungus Spores Observed Under Microscope:

 Examined the fungal spores under the microscope and recorded their shapes, including
spherical, oval, cylindrical, or irregular.

4. Observed and Recorded Different Types of Bacteria Colonies on Culture Media:

 Inoculated bacterial samples onto appropriate culture media.
 After incubation, observed the colonies formed by various bacteria species.
 Recorded observations included:
  Color: Noted the color of the colonies, which varied from white, cream, yellow, pink,
orange, green, to black.
 Pigmentation: Determined if there were any distinct pigmented areas within the
colonies.
 Opacity: Observed the opacity of the colonies, ranging from translucent to opaque
CHARACTERISTIC

A. Fungi colonies
Different types of fungi will produce different-looking colonies, some colonies may be colored, some
colonies are circular in shape, and others are irregular. A specific terminology is used to describe
common colony types. These are:

 Form: what is the basic shape of the colony? For example, circular, filamentous, etc.
 Size: the diameter of the colony. Tiny colonies are referred to as punctiform.
 Margin/border: the edge of a colony. What is the magnified shape of the edge of the colony?
 Surface: how does the surface of the colony appear? For example, smooth, glistening, rough,
wrinkled, or dull.
 Opacity: for example, transparent (clear), opaque, translucent (like looking through frosted
glass), etc.
 Colour (pigmentation): for example, white, buff, red, purple, etc.

B. Bacteria colonies
By looking closely at the colonial growth on the surface of a solid medium, characteristics
such as surface texture, transparency, and the color or hue of the growth can be described. The
following three characteristics are readily apparent whether you are looking at a single bacterial
colony or more dense growth, without the aid of any type of magnifying device.

 Texture: describes how the surface of the colony appears. Common terms used to describe
texture may include smooth, slimy, dry, powdery, flaky etc.
 Transparency: colonies may be transparent (you can see through them), translucent (light
passes through them), or opaque (solid-appearing).
 Color or Pigmentation: many bacteria produce intracellular pigments which cause their colonies
to appear a distinct color, such as yellow, pink, purple or red. Many bacteria do not produce any
pigment and appear white or gray.
RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS

1. Fungi colonies

Sample Picture/Diagram Colony Spore Description

The colony, identified

as F1, appears as a
large filamentous mass
measuring
a. Form: Filamentous - Shape: Irregular
approximately 6.1 cm
b. Size: 6.1 cm - Colour: White in diameter. Its margin
and surface are both
c. Margin: Filamentous
F1 filamentous, with a flat
d. Surface: Flat and and rough texture. The
colony presents an
Rough
opaque appearance,
e. Opacity: Opaque and its coloration is a
combination of black,
f. Colour: Black, White,
white, and green
Green patches distributed
irregularly. This
suggests the presence
of diverse fungal
species, including
Rhizopus, Mucor, or
Alternaria. Further
analysis is required for
accurate identification.

The colony exhibits a

scattered growth
a. Form: Scattered - Shape: Oval pattern with a
diameter of
b. Size: 0.94 cm - Colour: Peach
approximately 0.94 cm.
c. Margin: Round Its margin is rounded,
and the surface
d. Surface: Flat
F4 appears flat. Notably,
e. Opacity: Transparent the colony is
transparent, allowing
f. Colour: White Peach
visibility through it. Its
coloration is white with
a hint of peach. These
characteristics are
consistent with
colonies of Penicillium
expansum, a fungus
known for its white to
pale yellowish-green
colonies.
 The colony displays a
scattered growth
a. Form: Scattered - Shape: Flat
pattern with a
b. Size :1.6 cm - Colour: Green diameter of
approximately 1.6 cm.
c. Margin: Round
Its margin is rounded,
F6 d. Surface: Flat and the surface is flat.
The colony appears
e. Opacity: Opaque
opaque and is colored
f. Colour: Green green with a yellowish
tint. These
Yellowish
characteristics are
consistent with
colonies of Aspergillus
flavus, a common
fungus known for its
greenish-yellow
colonies.
a. Form: Circular
The colony displays a
b. Size: 8.4 cm
circular growth pattern
c. Margin: Round - Shape: Irregular with a diameter of 8.4
cm. Its margin is round,
d. Surface: Smooth and - Colour: White
and the surface is
Cotton characterized by a
F9 combination of
e. Opacity: Opaque
smoothness and a
f. Colour: White cottony texture. The
colony appears opaque
Yellowish
and is colored white
with a yellowish tint.
These characteristics
are consistent with
colonies of Aspergillus
flavus, a fungus known
for its circular, cottony
growth pattern and
yellow-greenish
coloration.
 The Trichoderma
Trichoderma a. Form: Circular - Shape: Spherical colony presents a
circular growth pattern
b. Size: 8.4 cm - Colour: Green and
with a diameter
c. Margin: Round White measuring 8.4 cm. Its
margin is round, and
d. Surface: Flat and
the colony appears to
Smooth have a flat and smooth
surface. The opacity of
e. Opacity: Opaque
the colony is opaque,
f. Colour: Green White hindering visibility
through it. It exhibits a
distinctive green-white
coloration, indicative
of Trichoderma
species. These
characteristics align
with the typical
morphology of
Trichoderma colonies,
known for their
antagonistic properties
against plant
pathogens and their
widespread use in
biological control and
biotechnological
applications.
2. Bacteria colonies

Sample Picture/Diagram Colony Description

The bacterial colony exhibits a smooth

a. Texture: Smooth and
and flat texture, with a transparent
Flat appearance. Its coloration is
predominantly white with a yellowish
b. Transparency:
tint. These characteristics are consistent
Transparent with colonies of Staphylococcus aureus,
Unknown 1 a bacterium known for its smooth and
c. Colour: White Yellowish
creamy appearance, often displaying a
yellowish pigment.

The bacterial colony presents a flat

a. Texture: Flat texture and appears transparent. Its
coloration is predominantly white with a
b. Transparency:
yellowish tint. These characteristics
Transparent could correspond to colonies of various
bacterial species, including
c. Colour: White Yellowish
Unknown 2 Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus
pneumoniae, or Escherichia coli.

a. Texture: Flat and The bacterial colony displays a flat

texture with crystalline formations,
Crystalize
appearing transparent. Its coloration is
b. Transparency: uniformly white. These characteristics
are consistent with colonies of Bacillus
Transparent
subtilis, a bacterium known for its flat,
BC c. Colour: White crystalline colonies
Subtilis a. Texture: Flat
The Bacillus subtilis colony exhibits a flat
b. Transparency:
texture and appears transparent. Its
Transparent coloration is predominantly white with a
yellowish tint. These characteristics are
c. Colour: White Yellowish
consistent with colonies of Bacillus
subtilis, a common bacterium known for
its flat, smooth colonies often exhibiting
varying shades of white or yellowish
pigmentation.
3. Observation under microscope

Sample Picture/Diagram

F6

Trichoderma

F9
F1

F4
DIAGRAM OBSERVATION UNDER MICROSCOPE
Distilled water was
dripped onto a slide.
The fungus was dropped
onto a slide that had
distilled water.
Cover slips were used
to cover the specimen.
The Bunsen burner was The scalpel was allowed to
ignited, and the scalpel cool for a while, then a
was heated up. small part of the fungus was
taken.
Methylene blue was The scalpel was heated up
dripped onto the slide. for a while before being
used to mix the fungus with
methylene blue and distilled
water.
The specimen was
observed under the
microscope.
QUESTIONS

1. Briefly explain the different characteristics of fungal and bacteria colony that can be used for
genus and species identification.

Fungal and bacterial colonies exhibit unique characteristics that aid in their identification at the genus
and species levels. Fungal colonies display varying textures (fluffy, cottony, smooth), colors (white,
green, black), and growth rates (generally slower than bacteria). They often feature distinctive
structures like hyphae and spores, and some produce characteristic pigments. In contrast, bacterial
colonies can be smooth, rough, mucoid, or wrinkled, with a wide range of colors and shapes (circular,
irregular, filamentous). They may show hemolysis on blood agar and produce specific odors.
Identification methods include gram staining to differentiate between Gram-positive and
Gram-negative bacteria, biochemical tests to assess metabolic activities, and molecular techniques
such as DNA sequencing for precise identification. Microscopic examination of colony morphology,
spore production, and cell characteristics also plays a crucial role in distinguishing between fungal and
bacterial species. These combined methods enable accurate identification of microorganisms based
on their colony characteristics and biochemical properties.

DISCUSSION

Morphological characteristics play a crucial role in distinguishing between bacteria and fungi. A
common method employed by scientists to categorize and describe these microorganisms is by
observing the morphology of their colonies. Bacteria, being minute and microscopic, necessitate
observation under a microscope as they are single-celled prokaryotic organisms, imperceptible to the
naked eye. However, they become visible when they form colonies on agar material within Petri plates.
On the other hand, fungi, comprising filamentous fungi, yeast, and other microbial forms, are
eukaryotic organisms. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, and their categorization can be
facilitated through analysis of both morphological and molecular characteristics. Cultivating fungi on
solid mediums like potato dextrose agar (PDA) aids in the identification of morphological traits. During
a recent lab practical, Fusarium species cultures grown on PDA were examined and documented for
traits such as color, pigmentation, and size, both visually and under a microscope. The observations
revealed distinct fungal colonies, including Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and
Colletotrichum truncatum, which differed in form, size, margin, surface, opacity, and coloration.
Additionally, each of these fungal colonies exhibited unique spore shapes: Fusarium oxysporum
displayed septate spores, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides featured needle-shaped spores, and
Colletotrichum truncatum showcased allantoid spores.
CONCLUSION

Morphological characteristics play a crucial role in distinguishing between bacteria and fungi. A
common method employed by scientists to categorize and describe these microorganisms is by
observing the morphology of their colonies. Bacteria, being minute and microscopic, necessitate
observation under a microscope as they are single-celled prokaryotic organisms, imperceptible to the
naked eye. However, they become visible when they form colonies on agar material within Petri plates.
On the other hand, fungi, comprising filamentous fungi, yeast, and other microbial forms, are
eukaryotic organisms. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, and their categorization can be
facilitated through analysis of both morphological and molecular characteristics. Cultivating fungi on
solid mediums like potato dextrose agar (PDA) aids in the identification of morphological traits. During
a recent lab practical, Fusarium species cultures grown on PDA were examined and documented for
traits such as color, pigmentation, and size, both visually and under a microscope. The observations
revealed distinct fungal colonies, including Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and
Colletotrichum truncatum, which differed in form, size, margin, surface, opacity, and coloration.
Additionally, each of these fungal colonies exhibited unique spore shapes: Fusarium oxysporum
displayed septate spores, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides featured needle-shaped spores, and
Colletotrichum truncatum showcased allantoid spores.
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