What is Mucor?
Mucor is a fungal genus within the Zygomycetes class of fungi which contains an estimated 40 species. Members of the Mucor genus can be found living all over the world, in a wide variety of environments, from the forest to the carpets of homes and businesses. In Northern Europe especially, Mucor species are ubiquitous indoors, and they can contribute to mold allergies in sensitive individuals. Some species cause diseases in humans, while others are known plant pathogens. Fungi in this genus grow in the form of a white to gray mold which develops into a fluffy mass. The mold can grow on living and dead plants and in the soil. Mucor species are very aggressive, and they will quickly overrun an environment and dominate other fungi. The mold grows and spreads quickly, making it difficult for slower-growing fungi to compete. Like other members of the class Zygomycetes, Mucor fungi can reproduce asexually with spores, or sexually by fusing to create zygospores which contain a mixture of gene
