NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Penicillium is a genus under phylum Ascomycota or Ascomycetes. They are classified by the production of ascospores during sexual reproduction. Penicillium means “painter’s brush”. They are named so, due to the presence of chains of conidia (produced asexually) appearing as a brush terminally on mycelia.

Detailed explanation-2: -Penicillium (/ˌpɛnɪˈsɪliəm/) is a genus of ascomycetous fungi that is part of the mycobiome of many species and is of major importance in the natural environment, in food spoilage, and in food and drug production.

Detailed explanation-3: -Penicillium belongs to Ascomycetes which produces spores in asci called ascospores.

Detailed explanation-4: -Penicillium is a diverse fungal genus of ascomycetous fungi and contains more than 350 species (Visagie et al., 2014). Penicillium is often referred as Deuteromycetes.

Detailed explanation-5: -Common examples of ascomycetes include yeast, powdery mildews, cup fungi, morels, truffles, Neurospora, Aspergillus, Cladonia, Penicillium, Candida, Claviceps, etc.