Black Pin Mold

Common Names the Black Pin Mold the Black Bread Mold 

Medium Through Which Contamination Is Spread Primarily air secondarily grain and contaminated compost.  

Microscopic Characteristics Tall sporangiophores arising singly from the mycelial mat, adorned with a spherical sporangium composed of many spores. Hyphae are non-septate (lacking distinct cell walls). 

History, Use and/or Medical Implications Some species toxic. Mucor pusillus and other mu-curaceous fungi are the cause of a rare but deadly disease known as mucormycosis or phycomy-cosis. Although Mucor attacks open wounds, the outer ear and the lungs, it is not a primary parasite but one that takes advantage of poor health caused from other diseases. This disease and ones related to it are more prevalent in tropical and semitropical zones than in temperate regions. For 

If in doubt whether a whitish mycelium is Mucoror not, inoculate some bread with some mycelium covered kernels and incubate at a warm temperature. If the mold is Mucor, it will sporulate in a few days and be easy to identify. 

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Figure 210 Mucor, the Black Pin Mold, on malt agar.

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