MFIT Workshop Schedule

February 24-26, 2026, and April 7-09, 2026

Time: Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
8:30 Intro, overview, history of mycology and use of morphological characters in identification.  Introduction to terms and literature resources. Check single spore isolations.  Question and Answer session covering Ascomycota anamorphs.  Review of identified specimens and literature Question and Answer session covering the previous day samples.  Review of specimens and literature.
9:30 Hands-on intro to the microscopes break break
9:45 break Lecture: Ascomycota sexual states: "Pyrenomycetes" and "Loculoascomycetes"  Lecture: "Other groups"…Downy Mildews, Oddballs (?)
10:30 Lecture: Ascomycota asexual group Hyphomycetes
11:30 11:15-12:30 Microscope work in the Hyphomycetes Microscope work with Ascomycota sexual states Microscope work, continue samples from Tuesday and add sexual Ascomycota states, Rusts and Smuts, Downy mildews and oddballs
12:30 lunch  lunch  lunch
13:30 Lecture: Ascomycota asexual group Coelomycetes Lecture: Rusts and Smuts Demonstration of Fungus Host database, MycoBank, MycoPortal and other resources
14:30 Single spore isolation presentation/ Microscope work focused on Coelomycetes Microscope work, continue samples from Tuesday and add sexual Ascomycota states, Rusts and Smuts Microscope work, continue samples from Tuesday and add sexual Ascomycota states, Rusts and Smuts, Downy mildews and oddballs
15:30 break break break
15:45 Microscope work, identification of Ascomycota anamorphs Microscope work, continue samples from Tuesday and add sexual Ascomycota states, Rusts and Smuts Continue microscope work, highlight any specimens sent by participants. 
16:30 Microscope work, identification of Ascomycota anamorphs Microscope work, continue samples from Tuesday and add sexual Ascomycota states, Rusts and Smuts Wrap up, overview