common bread mould (rhizopus) Flashcards
Is common bread mould a saprophyte or parasite??
A saprophyte of starchy foods e.g. breads, vegetable peelings, stored fruit such as apples
How does Rhizopus absorb nutrients?
It secretes enzymes out into the starchy substrate. Digestion takes place outside the fungus and the digested nutrients are then absorbed
How does bread mould appear?
It appears as black circular patches
What is bread mould fungus also called?
pin mould
Why is this mould also called pin mould?
as the reproductive structures look like pins sticking out from the surface
What does Rhizopus consist of structurally?
Consists of threadlike structures called hyphae. These have no cross walls (they are aseptate) and are multinucleate, each nucleus being haploid.
What is a mass of hypha called?
a mycelium
What do hypha do?
They digest and absorb the substrate on which they grow
what is a stolon?
it is an aerial hypha which allows the fungus to spread more rapidly.
what are rhizoids?
They are hyphae that grow into the substrate and provide extra surface area for absorption.
