Question

What is the difference between conidia and conidiophores?

Answer 1

Conidia:

1. Conidia are asexual spores produced in fungi.
2. It is usually produced at the tip or side of hyphae (filaments that make up the body of a typical fungus) or on special spore-producing structures called conidiophores.
3. The spores detach when mature.

Conidiophore:

1. Conidiophore is the special mycelium on which conidia are produced exogenously.
2. It is special spore-producing hyphae that produce spores asexually.
3. Conidiophores may be arranged singly on the hyphae or may be grouped in special asexual fruiting bodies.

Conidia	Conidiophore
Conidia are exogenous spores that grow through on sides of special hyphae known as conidiophores.	It is a specialized branch of hypha seen in some fungi that produce spores (conidia) asexually.
2. It usually produced at the tip or side of hyphae (filaments that make up the body of a typical fungus) or on special spore-producing structures called conidiophores	2. It is a special spore-producing hyphae on which conidia are produced exogenously.
3. Example: Penicillium and Aspergillus.	3. Example: Aspergillus conidiophore.