characteristics of aspergillus Niger
Answers
Aspergilli can be found throughout nature with their spores being abundant in air. In addition to largely being saprophytes that obtain their nutrition from dead and decaying matter, they can also be pathogenic to human beings and animals with some also affecting and damaging plants.
Because they lack chlorophyll, and are therefore unable to produce their own food, they are dependent on other material in their surroundings for nutrition. Here, it is worth noting that Aspergilli are incapable of absorbing organic matter in their surroundings.
For this reason, they release different types of enzymes such as amylase capable of breaking down these materials into simpler compounds that can be absorbed through the vegetative hyphae.
The release of high amounts of these enzymes results in enhanced decay of all organic matter in their immediate environment and consequently the availability of more food source necessary for reproduction and growth.
For most part, they reproduce asexually through the production of spores known as conidium (fungi spore). Once the spore lands on a favorable environment (with moisture, warmth and nutrients) they start germinating where they create numerous hyphae that form the mycelium. The hyphae allows them to grow, spread and continue reproducing across the surface of the substrate
General Characteristics of Aspergillus
Aspergilli can be found throughout nature with their spores being abundant in air. In addition to largely being saprophytes that obtain their nutrition from dead and decaying matter, they can also be pathogenic to human beings and animals with some also affecting and damaging plants.
Because they lack chlorophyll, and are therefore unable to produce their own food, they are dependent on other material in their surroundings for nutrition. Here, it is worth noting that Aspergilli are incapable of absorbing organic matter in their surroundings.
For this reason, they release different types of enzymes such as amylase capable of breaking down these materials into simpler compounds that can be absorbed through the vegetative hyphae.
The release of high amounts of these enzymes results in enhanced decay of all organic matter in their immediate environment and consequently the availability of more food source necessary for reproduction and growth.
For most part, they reproduce asexually through the production of spores known as conidium (fungi spore). Once the spore lands on a favorable environment (with moisture, warmth and nutrients) they start germinating where they create numerous hyphae that form the mycelium. The hyphae allows them to grow, spread and continue reproducing across the surface of the substrate.