Difference Between Mold and Fungus
Table of Contents
Main Difference
The main difference between Mold and Fungus is that Mold is a superficial often woolly growth produced on moist or decaying organic matter or living organisms by a fungus whereas Fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that comprises microorganisms such as yeasts and mushrooms.
Mold vs. Fungus
Mold is a fungus that cultivates in the form of multicellular filaments or threads called hyphae; in contrast, Fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that comprises microorganisms such as yeasts and mushrooms. There are about more than 100,00 species of molds which is commonly seen in damp, dark or steam-filled areas while Fungus comes in a variety of different shapes, size and types of over 200,00 species present and commonly found in acidic medium, soil, freshwater, seawater, fruits, vegetables, and on mammals skin. Mold is a large group of fungi that can spread on food or in humid, damp and dark areas while fungus grows best in acidic medium, in the soil, in our body, on plants and animals, even in freshwater and seawater. Mold grows only in aerobic condition on the contrary fungus can grow aerobically as well anaerobically. Molds are eukaryotic microorganisms, which reproduce both sexually (meiosis) or asexually (mitosis) on the other hand fungus reproduce asexually and stationary but they can spread by forming reproductive spores. Mold act as both useful as in making antibiotics, biodegradation, soy food as well as harmful cause allergies, respiratory problems for the human. The fungus is useful in food production, fermentation, the medical value, in the same manner, create some lung disease, weaken the immune system, candidiasis in humans.
Comparison Chart
| Mold | Fungus |
| A large group of fungi that can spread on food or in moist areas | A group of spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter |
| Kind of Cell | |
| Multicellular | Single Cell |
| Types | |
| More than 100,000 species | Over 200,000 species |
| Shape | |
| Filamentous and thread-like | Round or oval |
| Mode of Reproduction | |
| Asexual and sexual | Asexual |
| Color | |
| Colorful (purple, orange, black), wooly and fuzzy | Smooth, and colorful (pink, green, brown, white) |
| Aerobic/Anaerobic | |
| Aerobic | Aerobic as well as anaerobic |
| Uses | |
| In making antibiotics, biodegradation, and soy food | Food production, fermentation, and medical value |
| Health Hazards | |
| Cause allergies, respiratory problems | Lung disease, weakened the immune system, candidiasis |
| Examples | |
| Penicillium, Rhizopus, Aspergillus | Mushroom, and yeast |
What is Mold?
Mold is a superficial often woolen growth produced on moist or decaying organic matter or living organisms by a fungus. Mold is a large group of fungi that can spread on food or in humid areas. Molds are described as filament or thread-like because they arrange in a long filament-like, or thread-like, strands of cells called hyphae. Mold appears as colonies of fuzzy appearance due to hyphae. Mold discharge hydrolytic enzymes from hyphal tips, which destroy starch, lignin, and cellulose. Molds are eukaryotic microorganisms and multicellular, which reproduce both sexually (meiosis) or asexually (mitosis). Mold is characterizing by aerial spores. There are 3500 of molds types and more than 100,000 species found commonly seen in humid, dark or steam-filled areas. Mold act as decomposers by decaying nature’s organic wastes. Mold also used in medicine in making antibiotics such as penicillin, Lovastatin (cholesterol- lowering), cyclosporine (immune suppressants). Mold is frequently useful in the manufacture of food and beverages like rennet, cheese. Certain molds are harmful to health that can cause allergies, headaches, rashes, other respiratory problems, and itching, etc.
Examples
Penicillium, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, etc.
What is Fungus?
The fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that comprises microorganisms such as yeasts and mushrooms. Fungus comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, and different types range over 200,000 species. Fungus ranges from single cells to huge chains of cells that can make expanse for miles. Fungus includes single-celled, such as yeast, living things that occur individually and multicellular clusters, mushrooms. Fungus cells look round or oval under a microscope and mostly grow asexually. Fungus cells are too small to see as individuals but can see large bands of a white powdery coating on fruits and leaves. The fungus grows best in slightly acidic environments. They can grow on substances with very low humidity. The fungus grows in the soil, in our body, on plants and animals, even in freshwater and seawater. A single teaspoon of topsoil contains about 120,000 fungus cell. Fungus cells are stationary. But they can spread by forming reproductive spores. The fungus grows on nutrients absorb from living or dead organic matter. Fungus cells absorb easily dissolved nutrients, such as sugars. The fungus is quite useful to us in taking antibiotics to fight against bacterial infections. Yeast is also useful to make bread rise and to brew beer. The fungus breaks down dead plants and animals and keeps the world organized. Natural fungal enemies of insect pests are made to get rid of these bugs. Some types of fungus may cause Lung disease, weakened the immune system, candidiasis.
Examples
Mushroom, and yeast.
Key Differences
Conclusion
As above discussed, Mold is multicellular with hyphae and can reproduce sexually or asexually; use in making antibiotics, cheese making, on the other hand, Fungus is a single cell, grow everywhere, reproduce asexually used in food beverages, and fermentation.
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