Re: [compost_tea] Re: outstanding questions

From: soilfoodweb@aol.com
Date: Wed Mar 12 2003 - 14:11:36 EST


there is no actual scientific basis to the word "mold". It is used to denote
a group of less-than-desirable fungi, but no solid science to the term, just
common usage. Some plate count folks use a medium to enumerate "yeasts and
molds", but that's like saying, "fungi and fungi". Yeasts are a certain
type of fungus, and molds are a vague group of not-so-great-for-your-plant
fungi, but which fungi are in the group and which are not has not been
defined, at least as far as I know,

So, in the scientific world, we talk about fungi. The group of "mold" fungi
would include mildews, blights, wilts, and rots. Some are diseasese on
certain plants, not on others. So it also depends on which plant you are
growing, whether you would call it a mold, or an ok fungus.

Hope this helps -

Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
www.soilfoodweb.com
SFI Oregon, USA
SFI Australia
SFI New York
SFI Europe
SFI New Zealand






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