Rhizopus

Rhizopus is a genus of filamentous fungi in the order Mucorales. Its species grow rapidly on organic matter, produce sporangia, and include molds used in food fermentation.

Mucorales: Mucorales is an order of fungi that includes Rhizopus and other fast-growing molds. Rhizopus belongs to this order, whose members share broad hyphae and distinctive spore-forming structures.
Sporangiophore: A sporangiophore is a specialized fungal hypha that bears a sporangium. Rhizopus raises sporangia above its substrate on unbranched sporangiophores.
Tempeh: Tempeh is a fermented food made by binding cooked soybeans into a firm cake with fungal growth. Rhizopus oligosporus, often classified as Rhizopus microsporus, is the principal tempeh starter mold.
Rhizopus stolonifer: Rhizopus stolonifer is a fast-growing mold commonly found on bread, fruit, and other organic matter. Its dark sporangia and spreading growth make it the familiar black bread mold.
Hypha: A hypha is a tubular fungal filament that grows and branches to form a network called a mycelium. Rhizopus grows through hyphae that spread across food and other organic substrates.
Asexual reproduction: Asexual reproduction produces offspring without the fusion of gametes or mating cells. Rhizopus rapidly propagates when sporangiospores germinate without mating.
Rhizopus oligosporus: Rhizopus oligosporus is a filamentous fungus widely used to ferment soybeans into tempeh. This species illustrates Rhizopus's role as a deliberate food-fermentation organism.
Rhizopus microsporus: Rhizopus microsporus is a species complex that includes strains used in fermentation and strains associated with disease. Its varied strains connect Rhizopus food uses with opportunistic infection.
Sporangium: A sporangium is a structure in which spores are produced and contained. Rhizopus forms dark, rounded sporangia at the tips of upright sporangiophores.
Sexual reproduction: Sexual reproduction combines genetic material from compatible reproductive cells or nuclei. Rhizopus can reproduce sexually through fusion between compatible mating types.

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MucoromycotaBroader topic: This familiar mold genus exemplifies another major mucoromycotan lifestyle.