Penicillium

Class: Acromycetes

Order: Aspergillales

Family: Aspregillaceae

Genus: Penicillium

Penicillium is commonly called blue mold. It is a saprophytic found growing in decaying fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits-like orange and lemon. The mycelium consists of pale hyaline brightly hyphae which generally grow superficially on the substratum, the hyphae are septate branched and uni- nucleated.

REPRODUCTION

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

It is for the formation of conidia on special branch called conidiopores. The conidiophores is the long, slender septate grows right from the vegetative hyphae . They maybe branched or unbranched. The ultimate branches of the cornidiophore are called matulate. The metulate produce bottle shaped cells called sterigmata or phialides. The conidia are born in chains of basipital successions at the tip of each stigma. The terminal part of the cornidiophore has a brush or broom-like appearance knows as penicillus hence the name penicillium. The conidia are blue green, olive green or grey depending upon the species. They are globose in shape, uni-nucleate and has a smooth wall. They germinate and give rise to a new mycelium

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

It is by means of gametangial contact between the male antheridium and female ascogonium which maybe produced on the same or different hyphae. Fertilization results in the formation of fruiting bodies called ascocarps, cleisthothecium which encloses the number of asci. Each containing 8 ascospores which when liberated germinates to give rise to a new mycelium.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

The genus penicillium is of great ecomomic importance .concidering the dis advantage of fungus first. It causes great demage of furniture .fabrics etc. .The profuse growth growth of mycelium on the windows ,furniture etc, forms a blue coating .oe of the greatest demages iscaused to the fruits and vegetables for example. P.digitatum and P.expansum cause the decay of sitrus fruits . the latter spices are causing the decay of apples. Some of the spices are causing animat and human diease. For example. Pencillosis of lungs. However these can be controlled by careful hanling og material. Keeping them under restricted air supply , low temperature and dry condition

Posted in: Microbiology