Chilika a brackish water coastal lagoon is well known for its rich fishery resources. The lagoon is a life line for the economic and nutritional security to 0.2 million fishermen who are dependent on this renewable bio resource. The rich fishery resource of Chilika eventually depends on many small animals that directly or indirectly play…
Category: Nature
Things connected to observations in ecological context
A Memorable Visit to Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad (Part-2)- The Spinning Wheel
Across a group of cottages called Hridaya Kunj, my breathe almost stopped. Here I was standing at Gandhi ji’s cottage, where he once lived. From where he used to go to his morning prayers led by Baa and Manu. The weapon that brought freedom to India -his Charkha which he used to spin lay silent,…
A Memorable Visit to Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad (Part-1)
Being in Ahmedabad, I planned to visit Sabarmati Ashram on 4th January, 2019, which was at a distance of about 36 kms from the place of my stay. I hired a cab and within 40 mins., I was at my destination. I pinched myself twice to make sure I was at a place where once…
Blue and yellow moldy growth on Amla
Powdery masses of green and yellow spores were seen on bruised surface of Amla ( Phyllanthus emblica). On consulting literature, it was evident that due to rough handling during long distance transportation and storage, the injured fruits are susceptible to fungal infections. The common microflora responsible for the post-harvest losses of fruits usually belong to…
Infected Cucurbita leaf under foldscope
White powder-like substance was seen on Cucurbita leaves. The leaves showed yellow patches also. The infected powder was seen under foldscope to find elongated structures as well as oval-shaped spores/cysts.
Germinating fungal spores
Germinating hyphae were little tiny structures noticed in the fermented dough. I had always read about germinating spores but seeing for the first time under the foldscope was unbelievable.
Different stages of sporulation in fungi observed under foldscope
Beginning of sporogenesis is a rare view which I was able to study under foldscope incidentally. Stage-1: The fungal hyphae had spread forming a dense network called mycelium. Stage -2: From these some special reproductive hyphae called sporangiophores were visible. The tips of these stalk-like structures were slightly swollen. Stage -3: These then became big…
CONSORTIUM OF FUNGI ON FERMENTED DOUGH
My winter vacations began with fungal rich samples for my foldscope. Travelling from Chandigarh to Ahmedabad (in Gujarat) to my daughter’s place proved to be an enthusiastic vacation for me. While she was off to her workplace, I was busy cleaning the mess and there I got samples worth to view under a foldscope. In…
Pretty Things on a Marigold Flower
I plucked out some parts from the center of a marigold flower. Some are evidently the stamens, but there are structures which – upon magnification with Foldscope – appear to bear sacs filled with liquid, possibly nectar. Following are the curled structures upon magnification: I like how pretty and gem-like these look under Foldscope. I…
TS OF A STEM TO SHOW TRICHOMES
T.s. of stem to show trichomes (shoot hair), leaf epidermis to show stomata, onion root tip to show mitosis, spine and root hair under foldscope… Dr. Shweta Nailwal mam experimented and made this effort to show us these images।।।।।
Mycelium growth found on chapati dough
Mouldy growth was seen on stale chapatti dough left un-noticed. On viewing a sample drawn from the white cottony infected portion showed growth of thread-like structures under a foldscope. These are mycelium.
Workshop on Foldscope at Murguma, Purulia at Nature study Camp in collaboration with Howrah Vigyan Chetna Samannaya
A workshop named “Exploring Invisible World with Foldscope” at Murguma, Purulia at morning session of 27th December, 2018 was organized by foldscope team of University of Calcutta, Department of Environmental Science in collaboration with Howrah Vigyan Chetna Samannaya on 27th December, 2018. All the students of Nature Study Camp were present at the workshop. They…
Foldscope training session in progress @NSS camp, GGDSD College on 28.12.18
An overwhelming response of the participants was seen in the NSS camp on usage of foldscope. The participants were keen to exchange hands at learning foldscope. The time paucity rendered preparation of only few sample slides. The trainers tried to satisfy all the queries of the participants and the enthusiasm of the participants was appreciable.
Foldscoping snow
What a way to start 2019 – it was snowing all morning; and I tried to foldscope snow. Here is a quick tutorial. It’s beautiful how the snow flakes melt! More soon. Enjoy the video. Now, here is a puzzle. Why does the snow flake melt as soon as we start imaging them. Leave comments…
Surface Structure in Wings of Cigarette Beetle, Sawtoothed Grain Beetle and Lessergrain Borer Beetle
Morphostructure in Forewing of Lesser Grain Borer beetle (Rhyzopertha dominica)
Back to the Himalayas with Foldscope
Hey folks, here’s a post about my journey in the Himalayas with Foldscope. Follow me on Twitter and Researchgate to know more. I had planned another journey to the Himalayas for this year-end hoping to discover microorganisms and Tardigrade during the winter. I was planning to visit Kedarkantha in Uttarakhand, India. Unfortunately due to a…
OBSERVATION OF EAR WAX UNDER FOLDSCOPE
Ear waxDust & dead organisms
Powdery mildew on the leaf of a flower
Occurrence of powdery spores on the leaf of a flower Powdery mildew spores as seen under foldscope
Unknown Fungus on Pomegranate fruit
Pomegranate stored in refrigerator had some white powdery growth on them. I scraped a sample to observe it through foldscope to find branching network of fungal hyphae. Sporangial development at the tips of hyphae could be made out under foldscope.
HIGH-RESOLUTION FOLDSCOPY OF A BIOLOGICAL MICROMACHINE: VORTICELLA
Our foldscope team was onboard for sampling from Chilika Lagoon along with 6 students and PI of foldscope project from Department of Zoology, D.N. Government College Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on 27th Dec 2018. It was a fabulous bright sunny day and we were sure that in our pursuit for capturing the live biological machines in…