Spores

The idea

In spore formation, sporangia contain spores that can develop into new individuals; the spores have thick walls that protect them until they contact a moist surface and begin to grow.

Fuzzy bread

A piece of bread left in a damp place gets a fuzzy growth, the bread mould Rhizopus.

How does it spread?

• By tiny cells called spores
• By seeds from flowers
• By laying eggs

Look at Rhizopus

Open each tab.

Spore formation

Spores are tiny cells in sporangia. Thick walls protect them. When a spore reaches a moist surface it begins to grow into a new individual.

In spore formation, sporangia contain spores that can develop into new individuals. The spores have thick walls that protect them until they contact a moist surface and begin to grow.

Notes

Spore formation: sporangia hold spores with thick walls that protect them until they reach a moist surface and begin to grow.

Check yourself

Which structures of Rhizopus are involved in reproduction?

What do the thick walls of spores do?

What can the spores in a sporangium develop into?

• The hyphae, the thread-like structures. The book says the hyphae are not reproductive parts.
• Neither, it cannot reproduce. The sporangia contain spores that can develop into new Rhizopus individuals.
• The sporangia, the blobs on sticks — correct. Yes!
• Protect them until they contact a moist surface — correct. Yes!
• Help them swim away. The book says the thick walls protect the spores until they come into contact with a moist surface.
• Turn them into hyphae at once. The walls protect the spores. They begin to grow only when they reach a moist surface.
• Only new sporangia, never new individuals. The book says the spores can eventually develop into new Rhizopus individuals.
• New Rhizopus individuals — correct. Yes!
• Bread. The spores can develop into new Rhizopus individuals.