Systematic position
Kingdom-Fungi
Phylum-Zygomycota
Class-Zygomycetes
Order-Mucorales
Family-Mucoraceae
Genera-Rhizopus
Occurrence
Rhizopus is a common and widely distributed saprophytic fungus belonging to the family Mucoraceae. The genus includes about 35 species. Rhizopus stolonifer, is one of the most common respective species of Rhizopus. It lives as a saprophyte and is frequently found producing white cobwebby mycelium over the surface of moist bread and other foodstuffs. Rhizopus commonly known as 'bread mould'.
Vegetative structure
The vegetative body as a coenocytic mycelium which forms white and cottony growth on the substratum. The mycelium is differentiated into three kinds of hyphae. One type of hyphae are repeatedly branched and form root like appendages. These are known as rhizoids, and they penetrate the substratum. They serve as holdfasts and anchor the vegetative body and also absorb food by secreting enzymes. The second type of hyphae grow horizontally over the surface of the substratum, and are known as stolons. They form connecting links between the clusters of rhizoidal hyphae. The third type of hyphae grow upward in clusters from the stolons just above the each cluster of rhizoids. These unbranched specialized hyphae are called sporangiophores, as at the tip of each is borne single sporangium.
The mycelium is multinucleate and non-septate. The septa are, however, formed in the older hyphae and at the time of the formation of reproductive structures. The cells of the young hyphae contain granular protoplasm in which are embedded numerous nuclei, glycogen and oil globules. The hyphal composed of fungal chitin.
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| Mycelium of Rhizopus stolonifer |
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