Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Needed some help with my potato mold project. I am looking for some books for prior information on this project but can't seem to find anything. Want to know what items make mold happen quicker on potatos.

Imrankhanz,

You might consider researching the Irish Potato Famine (more information can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_potato_famine ). You may not be working with the exact fungal species that caused the famine, but the factors that contributed to the condition prior to this famine will probably be similar to the conditions you found during your research.

You say that you want to know “what items make mold happen quicker on potatos� – quicker than what??? Other foods? From one potato crop to another? On potatoes in the kitchen (e.g. refrigerator vs room temp)? Perhaps these references will help:
http://seps.mgd-colo.peak.org/cvoracle/faq/mold.html - This website gives the titles of a couple of general mycology (mold / fungus) books (in the “library� section), and there are other neat topics explored as well.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Mo ... /index.asp - A general reference on mold and food from the USDA.

Also, when doing your research, you might consider the following terms, which are sometimes used synonymously with potato mold: potato blight, potato disease, potato mildew, potato murrain

One of the most common types of molds that affect commercial potatoes today is called white mold. You can learn more about this at: http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2248.htm

hey imrankhanz

i found some info about how white mold grows its pretty interesting too by a study conducted from michigan state university

http://www.potatodiseases.org/whitemold.html