Black_bread_mold

Black bread mold
Mold can cover a loaf of bread nearly entirely in less than three days
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Division: Zygomycota Class: Zygomycetes Order: Mucorales Family: Mucoraceae Genus: Rhizopus Species: stolonifer
Binomial name
Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.: Fr.) Vuill.

Rhizopus stolonifer (black bread mold) is a widely distributed Mucoralean mold.

Asexual spores are formed within sporangia, which break to release the spores when mature. Germination of these spores forms the haploid hyphae of a new mycelium. R. stolonifer grows rapidly at temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees C.

Rhizopus stolonifer is a heterotrophic species (Schipper 1984), in that sexual reproduction occurs only when opposite mating types (designated + and -) come in contact. Successful mating results in the formation of durable zygospores at the point of contact. Subsequently, the zygospore germinates and forms a sporangiophore whose sporangium contains both + and - haploid spores.

There are three varieties: R. stolonifer var. stolonifer produces straight, erect sporangiophores, whereas those of R. stolonifer var. lyococcos are curved Schipper, M. A. A. 1984. A revision of the genus Rhizopus. I. The Rh. stolonifer-group and Rh. oryzae. CBS Studies in Mycology 25:1-19.. A closely related species, Rhizopus sexualis, differs primarily in being homothallic (self-compatible).

Distribution and Habitat

Rhizopus stolonifer has a pandemic distribution. It is also a type of threadlike mold. It is capable of causing opportunistic infections of humans (zygomycosis). It is most commonly found growing on bread and soft fruits such as bananas and grapes. Because its spores are common in the air, it can be grown within a few days by keeping moistened pieces of bread in an enclosed, humid environment.

References

External links

• Time lapse video of Rhizopus stolonifer attacking strawberries at the Cornell Mushroom Blog.

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