Rhizopus

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.

• R. arrhizus causes fruit rot on apples.
• R. artocarpi causes fruit drop on jack fruit.
• R. nigricans is a common bread mold.
• R. oligosporus is used to make tempeh, a fermented food derived from soybeans.
• R. oryzae is used in the production of alcoholic beverages in parts of Asia and Africa.
• R. stolonifer (black bread mold) causes fruit rot on strawberry, tomato, and sweet potato and used in commercial production of fumaric acid and cortisone.

• Rhizopus arrhizus
• Rhizopus azygosporus
• Rhizopus circinans
• Rhizopus microsporus
• Rhizopus nigricans
• Rhizopus oligosporus
• Rhizopus oryzae
• Rhizopus schipperae
• Rhizopus sexualis
• Rhizopus stolonifer

• The plant body of rhizopus is known as mycelium.It is made up of long tubular branched thread or filament like structure called hyphae.The mycelium can be distinguished into three types of hyphae namely

1. stolons
2. rhizoids
3. Sporangiospores

• Mucormycosis
• Black bread mold
• List of Rhizopus species

• Rhizopus at Zygomycetes.org
• Photos of Rhizopus spp. used for tempeh-making at www.tempeh.idv.tw

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