Mold/Fungi (singular: Fungus), commonly known as mold, are
Eukaryotic, Multicellular, Heterotrophic aerobic, and facultative anaerobic
organisms. The mode of nutrition of multicellular mold is saprophytic
absorption. Most of the fungi reproduce with sexual and asexual spores. Of the
more than 100,000 species of fungi, only about 200 species are pathogenic to
humans and animals.
However, over the last few years, the incident rate for
fungal infections is increasing in immuno-compromised people. It also plays a
major role in the food chain because they decompose dead plant matter leads to
the recycling of vital elements.
Hard parts of plants, which animals cannot
digest, are primarily decomposed by fungi by the use of extracellular enzymes
such as cellulase. Mold is very harmful to the human body for this reason we
need to know about Mold Cleaning Tips. So that we can stay always
healthy and happy in our daily life.
Characteristics of Fungi:
Multicellular fungi are identified based on the physical
appearance of colonies, including colony characteristics and reproductive
spores. Fungal colonies are described as vegetative structures because they are
composed of the cells involved in catabolism and growth.
Structure of Fungi:
The main body of a fungus (Thallus) consists of long thread-like
filaments of cells join together known as Hyphae (singular: hypha). They are of
two types if they have walled cross cells known as septate hyphae and if there
is no cross wall in filaments called non-septate or coenocytic hyphae. When the
condition is favorable to hyphae, they grow and form a filamentous mass called
mycelium.
Dimorphic
Fungi:
Some fungi, mostly pathogenic species, exhibit dimorphism, also
known as two forms of growth. Such types of fungi grow either as a unicellular
yeast or multicellular mold. It's all because of the availability of the
environmental and physiological conditions for the mold. Mold like reproduce by
hyphae at 37◦C, and the yeast-like forms reproduce by budding at 25◦C.
Life
Cycle:
There are two types of reproduction in fungi, sexual, and asexual
forms of reproduction. Both occur by the formation of spore. It's the key
factor for the identification of mold.
Sexual
Spore:
Sexual spore formed by the result from the fusion of nuclei from
two opposite mating strains of the same species of the fungus. For the sexual
spore formation, two opposite mating strain is required. Organisms that are
reproduced by sexual reproduction have the genetic characteristics of both
parental strains.
Asexual
Spore
Asexual spores are formed by the hyphae of one organism through
mitosis and subsequent cell division. There is no fusion of nuclei of the
cells. When they spore, germinate, they become an organism that is genetically
identical to the parental organism. There are two types of asexual spores
produced by the fungi.
1. Condiospore/Conidium: it is a
unicellular or can be multicellular spore that is not enclosed in a sac. These
spores are attached at a stalk known as conidiophores.
2. Sporangiospore: This type of spore is
formed within a sac known as sporangium. These spores are at the end of aerial
hyphae called sporangiophore. The sporangium can contain hundreds of asexual
spores.