Mucor

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Mucor
Mucor mucedo
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Mucoromycota
Order:	Mucorales
Family:	Mucoraceae
Genus:	Mucor Fresen.
Species
See text

Mucor is a

Mucor mucedo (type species) use asexual reproduction. When erect hyphal sporangiophores are formed, the tip of the sporangiophore swells to form a globose sporangium that contains uninucleate, haploid sporangiospores. An extension of the sporangiophore called the columella protrudes into the sporangium. The sporangium walls are easily ruptured to release the spores, which germinate readily to form a new mycelium on appropriate substrates.

During sexual reproduction, compatible strains form short, specialized hyphae called gametangia. At the point where two complementary gametangia fuse, a thick-walled, spherical zygosporangium develops. The zygosporangium typically contains a single zygospore. Nuclear karyogamy and meiosis (sexual recombination) occur within it.

Clinical significance

Most species of Mucor are unable to infect humans and

• M. amphibiorum
• M. circinelloides
• M. ellipsoideus
• M. fragilis
• M. hiemalis
• M. hiemalis f. silvaticus
• M. indicus
• M. mucedo
• M. paronychius
• M. piriformis
• M. plumbeus
• M. pseudolusitanicus
• M. racemosus
• M. ramosissimus
• M. variicolumellatus
• M. velutinosus

See also

• Mucormycosis (a rare infection usually caused by the related genus Rhizopus).

References