[NHCOLL-L:4420] Re: Fungus infected botanical specimens, solution?

[Dirk Neumann]

Dear Alina,

here in Munich was a similar problem with a moulded anatomical reference 
collection; the collection was irradiated with gamma rays to stop and 
destroy the fungi. Gamma irradiation of vegetables e.g. is a standard 
treatment to prevent any potential pests from food imports. The strength 
of the gamma radiation is about the same as produced by a diagnostic 
X-ray machine, and significantly lower energy than the therapeutic 
treatment X-rays produced by linac machines in cancer.

Gamma rays are absorbed from animal and vegetable tissues; cells keep 
alive but have high radiation damages, which cause cells death during 
the the next cell division cycle, when the protein synthesis fails and 
the DNA molecule can't be repaired. Same applies to our mushroom friends ...

Hope this helps

Dirk


Alina Freire-Fierro schrieb:
> Dear all,
>
> We have received some specimens that are infected with fungi. The material is in the freezer right now (so we can kill any incoming insects), and 
> after the two weeks I was thinking in placing the specimens inside our plant drier. 
>
> Would you recommend this treatment?
>
> If you have had a similar situation, what was your solution? 
>
> I will appreciate any replies/suggestions.
>
> Many thanks and best wishes,
>
> Alina.
>
>
>
>   


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Dirk Neumann

Tel: 089 / 8107-111
Fax: 089 / 8107-300
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81247 München

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---------

Dirk Neumann

Tel: +49-89-8107-111
Fax: +49-89-8107-300
email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de

postal address:

Bavarian Natural History Collections
The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Lab
Muenchhausenstr. 21
81247 Munich (Germany)

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