Rhizopus stolonifer

Rhizopus stolonifer
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Mucoromycota
Class: Mucoromycetes
Order: Mucorales
Family: Mucoraceae
Genus: Rhizopus
Species:
R. stolonifer
Binomial name
Rhizopus stolonifer
Vuillemin (1902)
Synonyms
  • Rhizopus nigricans Ehrenberg (1820)
  • Mucor stolonifer Ehrenberg (1818)
  • Rhizopus artocarpi var. luxurians Schroet (1886)
  • Mucor niger Geodoelst (1902)
  • Rhizopus niger Ciaglinski & Hewelke (1893)

Rhizopus stolonifer is commonly known as black bread mold. It is a member of Zygomycota and considered the most important species in the genus Rhizopus. It is one of the most common fungi in the world and has a global distribution although it is most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions. It is a common agent of decomposition of stored foods. Like other members of the genus Rhizopus, R. stolonifer grows rapidly, mostly in indoor environments.