From: riburr@shentel.net   
      
   Rusty Hinge wrote:   
   >   
   > Just obtained a cheapo Tasco microscope from an Oxfam charity shop in   
   > Norwich - 50x - 1200x magnification, one pound ninety pence - not a lot   
   > lost if it's as bad as its red plastic body and chrome-coloured plastic   
   > twidlybits have prepared me for it being.   
   >   
   > I'm hoping it will be good enough to look at spores - until I can fin a   
   > nice heavy one with good lenses.   
   >   
      
   What's a good magnification and resolution for mushroom spore viewing?   
   Benjamin, in his book "Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas," recommends oil   
   immersion, 1000-1600X. This magnification is required as an aid to a   
   medical diagnosis where mushroom poisoning is suspected, and spores from   
   the mushrooms consumed are available.   
      
   Size and shape of mushroom spores are roughly equal to human red blood   
   cells (6-8µm), but you need to resolve smaller then this to view spore   
   ornamentation.  would you use an etched cover slip to determine spore   
   dimensions?   
      
   --   
   Mushroom blog:   
   http://ftvmushrooms.blogspot.com   
      
   The adpReview blog is being revised.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)