Tuesday, 22 March 2016

You can find it on rotting fruit




Rhizopus is a genus of common saprobic fungi on plants and specialized parasites on animals. They are found on a wide variety of organic substrates, including "mature fruits and vegetables", faeces, jellies, syrups, leather, bread, peanuts and
tobacco. Some Rhizopus species are opportunistic agents of human zygomycosis (fungal infection) and can be fatal. Rhizopus infections are also an associated complication of diabetic ketoacidosis. The widespread genus contains about nine species.


Rhizopus reproduces by vegetative, asexual and sexual methods by spores. The asexual sporangiospores are produced inside a pinhead-like structure, the sporangium, and are genetically identical to their parent. In Rhizopus, the sporangia are supported by a large apophysate columella, and the sporangiophores arise among distinctive rhizoids. Dark zygospores are produced after two compatible mycelia fuse during sexual reproduction producing colonies that may be genetically different from their parents.


1 comment:

  1. Waar de Messiah van Händel toe kan leiden: tot de wereld van het kleine, maar wel net zo mooi en boeiend als de muziek gisteravond.
    Leuk jullie weer te ontmoeten.

    Piet

    ReplyDelete