NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Rhizopus is a genus under the phylum Zygomycota. They are classified by the production of zygospores during sexual reproduction. They are commonly known as black bread mould, pin mould, etc.

Detailed explanation-2: -In asexual reproduction, the mold makes spores inside a sporangium. When the spores are ready to leave and spread more mold, the sporangium breaks open and lets the spores float out. In sexual reproduction its hyphae touch the hyphae of another Rhizopus mycelium. When they fuse, they make round balls called zygospores.

Detailed explanation-3: -There are multiple species of Rhizopus, but Rhizopus stolonifer earned this species name because it is a black mold that grows on bread and its spores float around in the air. Rhizopus stolonifer also uses rhizoids as a way to anchor itself to the vast array of substrates it can come in contact with.

Detailed explanation-4: -Zygospores are sexual spores of Zygomycetes; they are rarely observed except in homothallic species. Occasionally, heterothallic species form zygospores on initial isolation, in which case it is advisable to make several isolates of the fungus to ensure that both mating types are acquired.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Zygomycota typically reproduce asexually by means of non-motile sporangiospores. Sexual reproduction is by gametangial copulation and results in the formation of zygospores. Some species are heterothallic and have a bipolar mating type system which is biallelic but there are some which are homothallic.