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'''Black bread mold''' (''Rhizopus stolonifer'') is a widely distributed thread-like [[Mucorales|mucoralean]] [[mold]]. Commonly found on bread surfaces, it takes food and nutrients from the bread and causes damage to the surface where it lives.
'''Black bread mold''' (''Rhizopus stolonifer'') is a widely distributed thread-like [[Mucorales|mucoralean]] [[mold]]. Commonly found on bread surfaces, it takes food and nutrients from the bread and causes damage to the surface where it lives.
Asexual spores are formed within pinhead-like [[Sporangium|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°C.<ref name=Schipper/>
Asexual spores are formed without pinhead-like [[Sporangium|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°C.<ref name=Schipper/>


''R. stolonifer'' is a [[heterothallic]] species,<ref>(Schipper 1984)</ref> in that sexual reproduction happens 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.
''R. stolonifer'' is a [[heterothallic]] species,<ref>(Schipper 1984)</ref> in that sexual reproduction happens 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.

Revision as of 22:13, 9 November 2016

Rhizopus stolonifer
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Missing taxonomy template (fix): Rhizopus stolonifer
Binomial name
Rhizopus stolonifer
Synonyms

Ascophora mucedo
Mucor ascophorus
Mucor mucedo
Mucor stolonifer
Rhizopus nigricans
Rhizopus stolonifer var. stolonifer

Black bread mold (Rhizopus stolonifer) is a widely distributed thread-like mucoralean mold. Commonly found on bread surfaces, it takes food and nutrients from the bread and causes damage to the surface where it lives.

Asexual spores are formed without pinhead-like 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°C.[1]

R. stolonifer is a heterothallic species,[2] in that sexual reproduction happens 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. The two varieties are: R. stolonifer var. stolonifer,which produces straight, erect sporangiophores, and those of R. stolonifer var. lyococcos are curved.[1] A closely related species, Rhizopus sexualis, differs primarily in being homothallic (self-compatible).

Distribution and habitat

Symptoms of an infection caused by Rhizopus stolonifer on Artocarpus heterophyllus

Black bread mold has a cosmopolitan distribution. It is capable of causing opportunistic infections of humans (zygomycosis). It also causes Rhizopus soft rot in sweet potatoes.

References

  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ (Schipper 1984)