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I need good seeds #931473

Asked May 12, 2026, 1:58 PM EDT

I phoned your center today, May 12, and left s voice message, but decided to email you. I am having trouble growing seedlings from Burpee vegetable seeds. They either don't germinate or die at a certain point of growth. Ther is a black fungus that photosynthesizes on radioactive contamination I learned about from reading about the damage done to plants during the Chernobyl disaster. The black fungus I'm noticing spreads over the entire leaf and is not black spot or black rot-which only affects grapes and cruciferous vegetables. I noticed this fungus on many outdoor plants last summer, even on the grocery store vegetables I bought. I also learned that even plants recovered from radiation sickness most likely produce DNA damaged seeds and I'm wondering if this isn't my problem with the Burpee seeds. Also, DNA damaged seedlings cannot absorb water and nutrients through their roots and that could be why the seedlings die at a certain growth. Even spraying the seedlings with aloe and water only helps a little. Upon recommendatiin from the Chernobyl site, I am now using Schindele's Mineral Powder in my watering and spraying on mature plants to neutralize the heavy metals (isotopes) in the soil and air that break down into alpha, beta and gamma rays , causing DNA damage in plants. I am also using Aloe Vera Gel from sevenminerals.com in my watering and spraying for DNA repair. My suspected radiation contamination could be coming from radon in the atmosphere that came down in our recent rain. Or it could be a leak at a nuclear dump site. I know the EPA is cleaning up a dump site in Pennsylvania.

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for your question.

The organism to which you are referring is most likely something called “black fungus”. Its biological name is Cladosporium sphaerospermum. It has been reported from highly radioactive areas such Chernobyl. Its key feature is the possession of a dark pigment termed melanin. It is suspected that this pigment may help to protect fungal cells from ionizing radiation. The fungus does not undertake the type of photosynthesis that is seen in green plants. However, some sources have claimed that it appears to obtain nutrients from radioactive materials in a process called “radiosynthesis”. Please be aware that this assertion lacks a sound scientific basis. See:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2677413/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus

I am quite sure that the fungus you noticed last summer in markets and on outdoor plants was not this “black fungus”. Most likely it was a fungus called Aspergillus niger. It is very common in Minnesota. It also has a black appearance due to it containing melanin. Spores from this fungus can cause respiratory issues. See:

https://hsrm.umn.edu/node/2831

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aspergillosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369619

You are correct in saying that radiation can lead to DNA alternations that under very rare circumstances could be passed onto seeds. I cannot find any basis or proof for the suggestion that such alterations would be found in Burpee seeds. The death of your seedlings is more likely attributable to environmental growth influences.

Schindele’s Mineral Powder consists of finely ground rock powder having a high silica content with smaller amounts of iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, chromium, and trace elements. After using several computer search engines, I could find no reputable evidence that this powder offers protection from radiation or can repair DNA damage.

Similarly, I could not find any scientific basis that in plants and other organisms Aloe Vera Gel offers protection from radiation exposure.

Lastly, there does not appear to be any sound scientific studies that would support the suggestion that atmospheric radon has negative effects upon seedings.

I completely understand your frustration regarding poor success in growing things from seeds. Rather than looking at the source of seeds and radiation impacts, please see the following for proven ways in which to grow things from seeds:

https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/starting-seeds-indoors

https://sargentsnursery.com/starting-seeds-indoors-in-minnesota-a-beginners-guide-to-strong-healthy-plants/

Good luck. Thanks for consulting us.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 13, 2026, 1:41 PM EDT
Thank you-so informative!  I'm doing some things right but a lot wrong.  Mainly, I'm growing indoor seeds and plants and don't have enough light.  However, on mature plants I've been using the mineral powder and aloe vera gel with success in preventing the loss I had last year, where I almost lost all Amy plants from the black fungus.  I found the information by looking up " plant damage done by the Chernobyl disaster".

Thanks again.


On Wed, May 13, 2026 at 12:43 PM, Ask Extension
wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 13, 2026, 5:50 PM EDT

Good luck with your seeds.  We were glad to have been of assistance.  Thanks for consulting us.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 13, 2026, 7:51 PM EDT
I took your advice and put my seeds out on the balcony for better sunlight.  That's okay for the summer, but the electric bill for gro-lights would be astronomical.  I'll just get another table in the fall and put it right next to the one I already have for winter light. I do have a south facing window.

I also treated for "the fourth black fungus"  you pointed out- a general black fungus that grows where it's dark, cool and damp.  Truth is, I think the Chinese in the summer of 2024 spread their radioactive waste on America via those spy balloons.  Last summer I  treated what I thought was only a vicious black fungus maybe bio-engineered by the Chinese to destroy our food crop.  Then I read about the Chernobyl disaster and thought "bingo".  Last summer I applied bleach and water to the plants and soil and was able to save some plants-orchids.  Because potting mix for orchids (fir tree bark) is porous and I read the bleach turned the heavy metals into oxides and easier to flush out.  The orchids that I saved kept their leaves   and shed them in the fall like trees, as certain species of orchids do (Phal's and Vandas).  But they never grew their leaves back in the spring. 

I have read also that outdoor light is better than indoor, because the sunlight goes all around the plants.


On Wed, May 13, 2026 at 6:51 PM, Ask Extension
wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 14, 2026, 11:40 AM EDT

Thank you again for your interesting thoughts.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 14, 2026, 11:52 AM EDT

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