Question

Penicillium produces
a. Zoospores
b. Mitospores
c. Meiospores
d. Both B and C

Answer 1

Penicillium is an ascomycetous fungus This genus was first described by Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link. It plays an important role in the natural environment, in food and drug production, and food spoilage. These are ubiquitous soil fungi that prefer moderate and cool climates, generally present wherever organic material is available. Penicillin is produced by some members of this genus. Penicillin is used as an antibiotic.

Complete answer:
- Penicillium species multiply by vegetative fragmentation as well as sexual and asexual methods.
- Asexual reproduction starts with the formation of asexual motile spores known as conidia. Conidia are formed on the erect, aerial hyphae called conidiophores.
- The conidiophores branch many times and finally end into cylindrical bodies called sterigma. During the conidia formation, the nucleus of sterigma cleaves by mitotic division into two. The end portion of the sterigma gets separated from one nucleus and is known as conidium. When this conidia is fully grown another conidia is produced below the first conidia in succession at the terminal of the sterigma. So, the spores formed are mitospores. These spores germinate to form genetically identical saprophytes.

- In sexual reproduction, the spores are formed by meiosis from the diploid parent zygote. Antheridium a male sex organ and Ascogonium, a female sex organ arise on adjacent branches and fuse to form meiospores.
- Zoospores are the spores that have flagella. Zoospores are the motile spores.
Penicillium does not produce zoospores.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Additional information:
- The mycelium of Penicillium consists of colorless hyphae. Each pair of cells separated by a septum.
- Penicillium molds are found in Blue cheese.
- Many species of Penicillium produce toxic mycotoxins.
- Penicillin kills or stops the growth of various kinds of bacteria.
- Species of Penicillium plays an important role in cheese and various meat products.
- Acts as decomposers in the ecosystem.

Note: Penicillium is an ascomycetous fungus. It reproduces by both asexual and sexual reproduction. In asexual reproduction is produced mitospores whereas in the sexual reproduction meiospores are produced. Vegetative reproduction also takes place in Penicillium. In vegetative reproduction vegetative mycelium gets split into two or more parts each grows individually just like the parent mycelium. Due to both asexual and sexual modes of reproduction, it produces both mitospores and meiospores.