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Morphology of Moulds/ Molds A. Thallus

Fungal morphology includes thalli composed of filamentous hyphae that range in size. Hyphae are threadlike structures made of cells encapsulated by a chitin cell wall that may contain septa. There are three types of hyphae: generative, skeletal, and binding. A mycelium is a mass of branching hyphae that forms the vegetative part of the fungus. Spores are reproductive cells that can move through air currents and are important for identification and reproduction. Dimorphic fungi can switch between yeast and mold forms depending on temperature.

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163 views3 pages

Morphology of Moulds/ Molds A. Thallus

Fungal morphology includes thalli composed of filamentous hyphae that range in size. Hyphae are threadlike structures made of cells encapsulated by a chitin cell wall that may contain septa. There are three types of hyphae: generative, skeletal, and binding. A mycelium is a mass of branching hyphae that forms the vegetative part of the fungus. Spores are reproductive cells that can move through air currents and are important for identification and reproduction. Dimorphic fungi can switch between yeast and mold forms depending on temperature.

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Jane Lappao
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Morphology of Moulds/ Molds

A. Thallus
o Composed of filaments or plates of cells and ranges in size from a unicellular
structure to a complex tree like form
o Actively growing vegetative portion of a fungus

B. Hyphae
o Filamentous or the threadlike structure of a thallus
o Composed of hypha which are the long filamentous branches found in fungi
o Each hypha consists of at least 1 cell encapsulated by a protective cell wall
typically made up of CHITIN and can contain internal septa which would serve to
divide the cells
o The septa are important because they allow cellular organelles to pass between
the cells through the large pores however not all species of fungi contain septa
o The average hyphae measure approximately 4-6 microns in size

Two Types of Hypha


a. Aseptate/ Coenocytic
o Without crosswalls/ division
o Example: Zygomycetes: mucor, rhizopus
b. Septate
o With crosswalls/ division
o The rest of the fungi

Hyphae Characteristics
 Binding
o Binding hyphae have a thick cell wall and are highly branched

 Generative
o Generative hyphae have a thin cell wall, a large number of septa and are
typically less differentiated
o Contained within other materials like gelatin and mucilage
o Developed in structures used in reproduction
o All fungal species contain generative hyphae
 Skeletal
o Skeletal hyphae contain long and thick cell wall with few septa
o Can also be of a fusiform subtype with a swollen midsection surrounded with
tapered ends

Hyphae Composition-based on the hyphal system


a. Monomitic
 While virtually all funfi species contain the generative hypha those which only
exhibit these type is referred to a monomitic
 Example: Agaric mushroom
b. Dimitic
 Species that contain generative hypha in addition to one another type of
hypha
 Most common combination: Generative and Skeletal hypha
c. Trimitic
 Contain all three types of hyphae
d. Sarcodimitic and Sarcotrimitic
 Sarcodimitic are fusiform skeletal hyphae that are bound to generative hyphae
while Sarcotrimitic are fusiform skeletal and binding and generative hyphae

C. Mycelium
o Mass of countless hyphae typically an aerial hyphae
o Generative vegetative part of a fungus like colony consisting of a mass branching
thread like hyphae
o Mass of hyphae is also known as Shiro

D. Spores
o Tiny cells that form on a special type of hyphae
o 1000 spores can fit in a pinhead
o Can move unseen in air currents
o Cells which are set aside for reproduction
o Function:
 Reproduction
 Identification
 arrangement
 size and shape
 Rhizoids
 small branching hyphae that grow downwards
 Functions
1. anchor the fungus to the substrate
2. release digestive enzymes and absorb digested organic material
3. identification

1. Dimorphic Fungi
o assumes both yeast and mould forms
o temperature dependent
 at 220C – mould
 at 370C – yeast
o may switch between the 2 forms in response to environment conditions
o responsible for most of the fungal diseases
o examples:
 Blastomyces dermatitidis
 Coccidioides immitis
 Histoplasma capsulatum
 Sprorothix schenkii

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