Strange results for Bread Mold Colony?

[Konked]

Hi, I'm new here, but I really needed an answer to my question. I wasn't exactly sure where to put this, but since it's homework I decided to put it here.

 

On the 10th, I started growing a Bread Mold Colony. I took four samples of bread, poured a small amount of water over each, placed them in separate plastic bags, then placed one on my counter in the kitchen where I usually keep bread, another in a window, one in the freezer, and one in the fridge. For reference this is Whole Wheat bread.

 

My dilemma is that an unidentifiable substance has grown on the bread I placed in the window. None of my other bread had this problem. It is growing out of the top and over the side, it is white and about the size of a cotton ball. It is not foam, and it holds up when poked. To tell the truth, it's quite disturbing and I've never seen anything like it. Does anyone know what this might be? I'm not able to provide a picture, but if you need more information I'll be happy to supply it. Thank you for any help

 

Edit to add: I forgot to mention, the substance is in a circular form, hence the reference to the cotton ball. Also, it only grew to recognizable size in the last two or three days.

Edited May 25, 2010 by Konked

[Greippi]

Sounds like some sort of mold/fungus to me. Very understandable it would only appear on this bread - by the window is a different environment from the others! Can't tell you anything else without a picture.

[Konked]

Thanks for answering, even that helped a little with my research. I don't know why, since I already figured it was mold/fungus, but it did.

 

I found a supposed match to my mysterious bread mold, that seems to fit. I think it might be in the genus Rhizomucor from what I read, since it is said to grow quickly and mature in 4 days, and grows copious amounts of white/gray cottony material. It doesn't exactly seem safe to keep in a non-laboratory environment like my kitchen, so any suggestions on how to safely dispose of it would be helpful.

[Greippi]

There are thousands of types of mold hanging around, so it could be anything. Without a proper test in the lab I doubt you could identify it. As for throwing it away, just throw it away as you would normally!

[Konked]

I'm not sure...it's not normal. I know I can't perform proper tests, so I don't think I should rule out this specific type of mold. What I've read about it isn't quite safe, and I don't think I should just let it loose. Is there any way to, I don't know, make sure it's decontaminated before I throw it away? I don't just want to toss an unknown, possibly dangerous substance.

[Greippi]

If you're concerned, put bleach on it. that should blatter it.