Question

When a moist slice of bread was kept aside for a few days then some organism grew on it to form a white cottony mass which later turned black. When this slice of bread was observed through a magnifying glass, then fine thread-like projections and thin stems having bulb-like structures at the top were seen.
(a) What is the common name and scientific name of the organism which grew on the moist slice of bread?
(b) How did this organism grow on the moist slice of bread automatically?
(c) What are the fine, thread-like projections on the surface of slice of bread known as?
(d) What name is given to the knob-like structures and what do they contain?
(e) What is the name of this method of reproduction?
(f) Name one unicellular organism which reproduces by this method.
(g) Name tow non-flowering plants which reproduce by this method.

Answer 1

(a) The common name of the organism is bread mould, and its scientific name is Rhizopus.
(b) Spores of fungus are present in the air in their inactive form. When these spores get the favourable condition like a moist bread, they germinate and grow into new organisms.
(c) The fine, thread-like projections on the surface of the bread are known as hyphae.
(d) The knob-like structures are sporangium, which contain the spores.
(e) This method of reproduction is known as spore formation.
(f) Mucor fungus reproduces by the method of spore formation.
(g) Ferns and mosses are two non-flowering plants which reproduce by this method.