Carolina C-FERN Spores User Manual

C-F ern®Spores

Instructions

World-Class Support for Science & Math

To grow

C-Fern

®

successfully, you will need

• an appropriate growing environment

• a light source

• a medium

• spores

Growth and Development

Plant-growing systems can be easily adapted to provide adequate
environmental conditions for

C-Fern

. To attain the optimum growth and

timing of development as indicated in

C-Fern

kits, cultures require
adequate lighting and temperature control. If your temperature and
lighting conditions differ substantially from that indicated, a test run should
be carried out to determine when, under your conditions, specific
developmental stages will be present for observation and manipulation.
Two options, Culture Domes and Growth Pods, available through Carolina
Biological Supply, are described. Note: When using either option, do not
tightly seal the petri dishes (e.g., using Parafilm

®

).

Culture Domes (RN-15-6792)

Culture Domes, consisting of greenhouse trays covered with transparent
humidity domes, regulate temperature and humidity, reduce contamination,
and permit easy handling of a larger number of dishes. An illustration of a
Culture Dome with an appropriate lighting stand is shown below.

Maintain your

C-Fern

cultures under
continuous illumination using 40-W cool­white fluorescent light tubes at a distance
of 45 cm or less from the cultures. Vary the
distance between the lights and the Culture
Dome to obtain a temperature near the
28°C optimum. Larger lighting stands will
accommodate additional Culture Domes.

Remember: The correct temperature inside
the Culture Dome is more important than a
specific level of light.

©2003 Carolina Biological Supply Company Printed in USA

2

3

Growth Pods (RN-15-6715)

The Growth Pod makes culturing

C-Fern

even easier, more reliable,
cheaper, and faster by reducing needed space and allowing better control
of culture temperature. When the optimum culture temperature of 28°C is
difficult to attain using a Culture Dome, the Growth Pod can dramatically
decrease culture time and increase yield.

A simple lighting fixture with a 6” dome and switch (e.g., a small
clamp/utility light) and a 15-W screw-in fluorescent bulb are recommended.
(These bulbs are long lasting, highly efficient, and feel only warm when left
on continuously.) The light may be rested on small blocks (e.g., Legos

®

) on
top of the acrylic lid, or suspended over the top of the lid. Adjust the height
to achieve a temperature of 26–30°C within the pod. Small digital
thermometers can keep track of the temperature.

The Growth Pod can hold enough petri dishes for a class of 30 or more (six
stacks of five 60 × 15-mm petri dishes). As a result of stacking the petri
dishes, cultures on the bottom may be developmentally behind those on
the top. To minimize this, reverse the order of the stacks after 6–7 days.

For transport, zip the top of the pod closed to reduce temperature and
humidity fluctuations.

utility light with 15-W
flourescent bulb

1

/4” clear acrylic

box lined with
aluminum foil

insulated 6-pac cooler