Common Bread Mould (Rhizopus)

Rhizopus is saprophytic.
It lives on bread and fruit.
It secretes enzymes that digest the food.
It has rhizoids and hyphae that absorb the digested food.

infoNote

Saprophyte: an organism that lives on dead organic matter.

Structure of Rhizopus

Sporangium	• The sporangium contains the spores. • Spores are a method of asexual reproduction.
Sporangiophore	• The sporangiophore holds up the sporangium. • It allows the spores to be easily dispersed.
Hyphae (hypha singular)	• Hyphae are thread like structures. • They are aseptate (have no cross walls). • They are multinucleate.
Mycelium	• A mycelium is a mass of hyphae. • All cells in a mycelium are haploid (one set of chromosomes).
Stolon	• A stolon is a hypha that grows over the surface of the food. • It allows new mycelium to develop. • It is a method of asexual reproduction.
Rhizoids	• Rhizoids create a larger surface area for food absorption. • They release digestive enzymes into the substrate and absorb nutrients. • They are hyphae that anchor the fungus to the substrate.

Life Cycle of Rhizopus

Rhizopus can reproduce asexually or sexually.

Asexual Reproduction

Primary method of reproduction for Rhizopus.
Occurs by the production of spores in the sporangium.

Sexual Reproduction

Happens in unfavourable conditions as a method of survival.

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