Macro-photograph of mould on some nectarines. Air- borne spores alight on the surface of the fruit & germinate. They absorb nutrients for growth via r

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Macro-photograph of mould on some nectarines. Air- borne spores alight on the surface of the fruit & germinate. They absorb nutrients for growth via radiating filaments called hyphae. The white ring seen here is a mass of hyphae called a mycelium, the outer brown ring results from degenerating fruit tissue. The coloured central region is due to new spores, termed conidiospores, which appear at the tip of conidiophores, specialised erect hyphae which sprout from the mycelium. Their colour depends on the nature of the substrate & on the species of fungus; green for Penicillium, blue, green or yellow for Aspergillus. Mature conidiospores are carried away by air movements.

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Size: 5028px × 3484px
Photo credit: © SIDNEY MOULDS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aspergillus, decay, decayed, decaying, food, hyphae, mold, mould, mouldy, nectarine, nectarines, penicillium, rotted, rotten, spoilage, spoiled