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What is Zygomycetes?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Zygomycetes is a class of fungi with over 1,000 known species. This fungal class is extremely diverse, and representatives can be found living all over the world in an assortment of environments and circumstances. Humans often end up interacting with Zygomycetes fungi, usually in the form of bread molds or the feathery molds which appear on spoiled fruit such as strawberries and tomatoes. As a major source of food spoilage, these fungi can have a tremendous economic impact in some regions of the world.

Fungi are placed in this class when they reproduce sexually by making zygospores. Zygospores are very unique fungal spores formed by the fusing of two spores. Other fungi are not capable of this form of sexual reproduction, making Zygomycetes unique. These fungi can also reproduce asexually, usually by producing spores which are spread on the wind or carried by animals. A few species can aim and fire spores in specific directions by developing light-sensitive cells which trigger the release of spores in a particular direction. This controlled dispersal allows the fungus to increase its chance of success.

Bread mold is one of the most frequent molds sighted by humans.
Bread mold is one of the most frequent molds sighted by humans.

Some Zygomycetes species are parasitic, living on plants and animals. Others form symbiotic relationships with other organisms, living everywhere from the leaves of plants to the intestines of certain animals. These diverse fungi can also live on dead organic material, such as leaf litter and harvested food. In some organisms, they can cause infections and disease, especially in organisms with compromised immune systems which cannot repel the fungi.

Zygomycetes are often seen in the form of feathery molds found on foods such as tomatoes.
Zygomycetes are often seen in the form of feathery molds found on foods such as tomatoes.

These molds are sometimes known as pin or sugar molds, referencing their distinctive appearance and favorite habitats. Under a microscope, Zygomycetes fungi do indeed look like little pins, with a slightly thready appearance and distinctively large “heads” at the tip of each thread. Many Zygomycetes species also prefer to live on sugar rich substrates like fruits and breads, converting the sugars into energy. This preference for sugars is what causes problems for people, as many foods are rich in sugars which the fungi find immensely useful.

Inspect fruits for any sign of zygomycetes, and toss away the entire piece if you detect any mold.
Inspect fruits for any sign of zygomycetes, and toss away the entire piece if you detect any mold.

There are some practical uses for these fungi. Several species can be used in the controlled fermentation of foods, and have been utilized for this purpose for centuries. Several Asian foods and drinks in particular are made with the use of fungi from this class. Additional Zygomycetes species can be used in the manufacture of medications such as steroids, and some pharmaceutical labs maintain the fungi in controlled colonies for this purpose.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a InfoBloom researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a InfoBloom researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

indigomoth

@KoiwiGal - Black bread mold is one of the most common examples of this kind of fungus. Everyone has seen it before, it's kind of greenish-grey, and goes black when it gets older.

Although it's usually not that pretty, it's still really useful. It doesn't seem like it to us, because it helps to spoil our food. But if those oranges are lying on the ground, under a tree, this mold helps to decompose them and turn them into soil.

It's one of the things I teach my kids in school. You should also try to see where everything fits in the ecosystem before just dismissing it as a "bad thing". Even mold has its place and its purpose.

KoiwiGal

Is it strange that I find this kind of mold very pretty? Sometimes when you find it on bread or especially on fruit, with all the little strands it looks like a tiny, alien forest, or maybe a strange miniature mushroom grove (which, since it is fungus, I suppose it is).

I've taken a few macro photos of different kinds of fungus, which I suspect was usually zygomycetes and then manipulated in a Photoshop program so it was different colors and so on and I think the results are quite spectacular.

Yeah, it can be dangerous or just plain yuck when you find mold on your food, but it can also be lovely if you look a little closer.

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    • Bread mold is one of the most frequent molds sighted by humans.
      By: Marcin Kubiak
      Bread mold is one of the most frequent molds sighted by humans.
    • Zygomycetes are often seen in the form of feathery molds found on foods such as tomatoes.
      By: Jörg Beuge
      Zygomycetes are often seen in the form of feathery molds found on foods such as tomatoes.
    • Inspect fruits for any sign of zygomycetes, and toss away the entire piece if you detect any mold.
      By: johny87
      Inspect fruits for any sign of zygomycetes, and toss away the entire piece if you detect any mold.