Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Aspergillus
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Blue-stained microscope view showing Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae molds with round spore heads and thin branching hyphae on a pale background. mycosis
Quick Facts
Key People:
Guido Pontecorvo
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Blue-stained microscope view showing Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae molds with round spore heads and thin branching hyphae on a pale background.
Aspergillus

Aspergillus

genus of fungi
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Aspergillus, genus of fungi in the order Eurotiales (phylum Ascomycota, kingdom Fungi) that exists as asexual forms (or anamorphs) and is pathogenic (disease-causing) in humans. Aspergillus niger causes black mold of foodstuffs; A. flavus, A. niger, and A. fumigatus cause aspergillosis in humans. A. oryzae is used to ferment sake, and A. wentii to process soybeans. Three other genera have Aspergillus-type conidia (asexually produced spores): Emericella, Eurotium, and Sartorya.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers.