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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello, all,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve just made a disheartening discovery in our herbarium… Some of our specimens of “fluffy”-headed grasses were covered with plastic sheeting (open on at least two sides so that the sheet could be removed for study) during processing for
accessioning. I’m not sure of the nature of the plastic, but the mounting paper of some of these specimens shows signs of mildew – aargh! Obviously, this plastic needs to be removed as a first step! But I have some questions beyond that:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1) What more should be done to stop the growth of the mildew (if that is even possible)?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2) Obviously it occurred, at least in part, from trapped humidity. After the plastic is removed, can it spread to adjoining specimens if the RH is at acceptable levels? Could the nature of the plastic itself have contributed to this? I’ll
check the current RH in the room and in the herbarium cabinet where these were stored, and, although only a “snapshot in time,” can send that information to anyone willing to offer some help.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance for any answers and suggestions!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Deb Lewis<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#2F5496">Deborah Q. Lewis, Curator<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2F5496">Ada Hayden Herbarium (ISC/IA)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2F5496">EEOB Department Phone: (1) 515-294-9499<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2F5496">Iowa State University FAX: (1) 515-294-1337<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2F5496">342 Bessey Email:
<a href="mailto:dlewis@iastate.edu">dlewis@iastate.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2F5496">2200 Osborn Drive<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#2F5496">Ames, IA 50011-4009 (USA)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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