What is the difference between a spore print and a spore 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 or in agar applications (for edibles and medicinals). Spore syringes are simply a mixture of clean spores in a sterile solution. This allows for direct microscopic examination of hydrated spores or the application of spores directly to substrate material.
