What is the difference between a spore print and a spore/culture syringe?
Spore prints are collections of spores taken on a sterile medium under sterile conditions. The spores are collected by placing a mature mushroom cap on the medium and allowing the cap to release spores. The spores then adhere to the surface of the medium after drying and form a “print.” Prints are often used directly to observe spores under a microscope. Spore syringes are simply a mixture of clean spores in a sterile solution. This allows for direct microscopic examination of hydrated spores. Culture syringes of edible, medicinal, and novelty species are designed to allow the direct inoculation of mycelium into substrate material.
