Neurospora

fungi genus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Neurospora is a genus of fungi belonging to the phylum Ascomycota. These fungi are known for their black perithecia and persistent asci. Some species of Neurospora produce salmon-pink or orange spore masses and are considered pests in bakeries.12

Fungi reproduce by releasing vast quantities of spores, which can be produced asexually or sexually. Asexual reproduction in fungi can occur through fragmentation, fission, or budding. Neurospora has been extensively used in genetic and biochemical research.341

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Ascomycota
Neurospora, a genus of widespread species, produces bakery mold, or red bread mold. It has been used extensively in genetic and biochemical investigations. Xylaria contains about 100 species of cosmopolitan fungi. X. polymorpha produces a club-shaped or fingerlike fruiting body (stroma) resembling burned wood and…
Read More
Neurospora, a genus of widespread species, produces bakery mold, or red bread mold. It has been used extensively in genetic and biochemical investigations. Xylaria contains about 100 species of cosmopolitan fungi. X. polymorpha produces a club-shaped or fingerlike fruiting body (stroma) resembling burned wood and…
Read More

Bernard Ogilvie Dodge
…work on the genetics of Neurospora began. In 1920 he had discovered heterothallism in the ascomycetes (sac fungi), first in Ascobolus and then in Neurospora. His early papers demonstrated the excellent potential of Neurospora for genetic research, and later he was able to prove conclusively that this fungus obeys the…
Read More
…work on the genetics of Neurospora began. In 1920 he had discovered heterothallism in the ascomycetes (sac fungi), first in Ascobolus and then in Neurospora. His early papers demonstrated the excellent potential of Neurospora for genetic research, and later he was able to prove conclusively that this fungus obeys the…
Read More