Identifying moldy fruit in the refrigerator

Moldy black raspberry

Keeping fruit fresh in a refrigerator is a challenge.  These black raspberries became moldy after less than a week in a refrigerator.  Most of the mold on the surface was mycelia without reproductive structures.  I used a clear 3M transparent tease tape and with a 85% lactic acid mixed with fuchsin dye to identify the organism under 400x power.

Low resolution photomicrograph of Botrytis spp.  - N. Carlson

Close up of Botrytis spp. growing on the black raspberries - N. Carlson 

Photomicrograph of Cladosopoium spp. growing on the black raspberries. - N. Carlson

Identifying moldy vegetables in the refrigerator

Moldy red pepper - N. Carlson

With a microscope at home it's fun  to check on what's growing items that have gone way beyond the best by date.  These red peppers were in a closed container for more than a couple weeks.  The primary organisms identified were yeast and the dark colored Cladosporium spp. The Fridge temperature was reading 36 degrees F. or a 2.2 degrees C.

Yeast - N. Carlson

Cladosporium spp. - N. Carlson