Molds are the common fungi found on the surface of stale food. The very acquainted mold appearing on bread is Rhizopus Stolonifer.
Molds are fungi that grow in the form of translucent multicellular filaments called hyphae and a network of these hyphae is known as mycelium. Special strands of hyphae connecting fungal bodies are called as stolons. The soft white fluffy appearance on the surface from above is due to the presence of mycelium. The dusty texture of many molds is caused by generous number of asexual spores formed by differentiation in the sporangium. Many of these spores are colored, making the fungus much more obvious to the human eye.
Rhizopus reproduces asexually by sending up vertical stalk called sporangiophore which lumps at the tip to produce a sporangium. The cytoplasm in the sporangium divides repeatedly to release a mass of spores, each with a nucleus. When the sporangium breaks open, the spores are dispersed in the air, and each can grow to form a new mycelium on an apt medium.
Sexual reproduction occurs only when opposite mating types (+ and -) come in contact. Effective mating results in the formation of zygospores at the point of contact. Sequentially, the zygospore germinates and forms a sporangiophore whose sporangium contains both + and – spores.
Fungus feed on deteriorated organic matter through mycelium. The hyphae secrete digestive enzymes onto the food surface, which break down the complex biological polymers into smaller monomers. These monomers are then absorbed into the mycelium by facilitated diffusion and active transport.
The following are the pictures of Rhizopus Stolonier.
40X veiw of Spore
World under Microscope 