Identification Help Urgent

[helot13]

My wife and I were starting seeds indoors and some of them were placed in the refrigerator to get them going faster, then they were placed with the rest of the pots in trays in the sun. The pots that were in the fridge began to grow these little green blobs which I basically ignored until today. Today I witnessed a "steam" coming from the pots and upon closer inspection the green blobs were bursting open and sending spores. It was fascinating when it happened, but now I am growing concerned that this may not be the healthiest thing to be happening in my house.

Please let me know if you have an idea of what this creature is, as well as if there is any health risk for having possibly inhaled the spores. I would say the average size of these growths are one millimeter, and the time from them appearing on the soil to spore was about 7 days. It could be 14 days, but I am fairly certain it was only a week ago that I saw them appear.

I reside in Denver CO, USA, though the soil was packaged in St. Louis MO, USA.

Pictures:
pic1 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[goosey]

Hello helot13,
Until Cybershot or Bulbosa get here with their thougths - I shall say what I think, but I am not really sure.

I presume as you were worried that you removed your seedlings outside. I think if the spores were in a room which your family were sleeping - ie long periods of time - closed windows and curtains - it would be more of a health hazard. I presume they will have been in a kitchen, a well ventilated room?

The images look like jelly beech, but are too small and this is found on bark, so I have no idea what you organisms really are.

Like you, I suspect what ever fungi has grown, has actually come from the compost you bought. This will have been developed (no doubt on a bigger industrial scale) as mother nature has always done so, by the breaking up of fruit, vegetables, leaves, grass's etc by worms and fungi mycelium to reduce the lumps to fertile compost. So I think as with Bark mulch, the compost probably hold existing spores and the with the exposure to warmth and light they have started to grow.
People who look for fungi as an interest probably kick up and inhale spores all the time with no bad effect, though I have read that people have suffered from respiratory - but this is rare. It was probably the movement of the trays that nudged the spores ito releasing.
I think Cybershot will be able to add more light on this.

I am sorry I can't put your mind at rest or be more helpful.

Anyway welcome to WATW - I hope your future posts will be less of a worry to you .

[Cybershot]

While I have a look at the images on Flickr for clues to an ID you may wish to read two threads from our sister site, one from the fungi section and one from the gardening section, which discuss this subject.

Can You Be POISONED by touching mushrooms? - Wildlife and Environment Forums

Compost health hazard! - Wildlife and Environment Forums

Personally I don't think you have anything with which to be alarmed.

David

[paul m]

Fungal spores can cause health problems if breathed in continuously over long periods and particularly by frail people or those with impaired immune systems. However, the very rare occasions when people suffer acute reactions involve massive inhalations of spores - as, I think in, one of Cybershot's links. If you have any respiratory problems in the next day or two then mention the circumstances to your doctor: infections are easily treated.

[helot13]

Definitely a relief to know I may not have to worry terribly about it, but I am still curious to know what species this may be. As well, the fact that being in the cold of the fridge being a catalyst is something I would like to know more about. It could be a coincidence, but still curious. The soil has been outside and though it has been exposed to cold temperatures, the temperatures have fluctuated from 20-70 degrees, so perhaps the constant temperature is what allowed these fungi to come out of dormancy. I am no expert, but this is definitely making me want to learn more about this class.

They spored again today. This stuff is amazing.