What I’m working on:
Testing whether fungi can grow on plastic and potentially break it down
My goal:
To see if fungal growth can contribute to plastic decomposition
My setup / approach:
I placed small pieces of plastic in a damp environment where fungal growth could occur
I did not isolate a specific species, but I observed naturally occurring fungi in the setup
What I’ve observed so far:
-After about a week, I saw fungal growth forming on the surface of the plastic
-The plastic itself did not visibly change or break down
What I’m trying to figure out:
Whether the fungus is actually interacting with the plastic in a way that could lead to breakdown, or if it is just growing on the surface
Specific feedback I’m looking for:
- How to tell if plastic is actually being broken down
- Whether I would need a specific species (like Pestalotiopsis microspora) to observe this effect