Mold and yeast are eukaryotes and belong to the kingdom Fungi. Mold is the growth form of fungus which is found in the damp or dark areas. It has a fuzzy appearance and is either purple, orange, brown, green, pink and black in color. They reproduce through asexual or sexual spores. There are around four lakh types of molds. Yeast is a microscopic fungus which is commonly found in the environment. It is colorless and thready in appearance. They reproduce through budding. There are around one thousand five hundred types of yeasts.
Difference Between Molds And Yeasts
| Properties | Molds | Yeasts |
| Type of fungus | The growth form of fungus | A microscopic form of fungus |
| Found | Damp and dark areas | Commonly found in the environment |
| Appears | Fuzzy | White & thready |
| Types | 4,00,000 | 1,500 |
| Uses | Production of cheese | Production of ethanol |
| Sporing fungi | Yes | No |
| Color | Purple, orange, brown, green, pink and black | Colorless |
| Shape | Threadlike | Oval |
| Reproduction | Sexual or asexual spores | Budding |
| Example | Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor, etc. | Cryptococcus neoformans, S. Cerevisiae, etc |
These were some of the important difference between Molds and Yeasts. To know more about the Kingdom Fungi register to BYJU’S.
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