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Which of the following environmental conditions are essential for optimum growth of Mucor on a piece of bread ?
A. Temperature of about $25^\circ C$
B. Temperature of about $5^\circ C$
C. Relative humidity of about 5%
D. Relative humidity of about 95%
E. A shady place
F. A brightly illuminated place
Choose the answer from the following options
A. Temperature of about $25^\circ C$
B. Temperature of about $5^\circ C$
C. Relative humidity of about 5%
D. Relative humidity of about 95%
E. A shady place
F. A brightly illuminated place
Choose the answer from the following options
A
A, C and E only
B
A, D and E only
C
B, D and E only
D
B, C and F only
Detailed Solution
Mucor is a saprophytic fungus (a mould of the class Phycomycetes) that grows on moist, stale bread and other decaying organic matter.
Temperature: fungi grow best at moderately warm temperatures of about 25 to $30^\circ C$. At about $5^\circ C$ (refrigerator temperature) growth is very slow, which is why food is preserved in a refrigerator. So A is required, not B.
Humidity: fungi need plenty of moisture for the germination of spores and the growth of hyphae, so a high relative humidity of about 95 percent is required. At 5 percent humidity the bread would dry up and the fungus would not grow. So D is required, not C.
Light: fungi have no chlorophyll and do not need light; bright light and the accompanying dryness are unfavourable, so they grow best in a shady or dark place. So E is required, not F.
So the essential conditions are A, D and E only.
Temperature: fungi grow best at moderately warm temperatures of about 25 to $30^\circ C$. At about $5^\circ C$ (refrigerator temperature) growth is very slow, which is why food is preserved in a refrigerator. So A is required, not B.
Humidity: fungi need plenty of moisture for the germination of spores and the growth of hyphae, so a high relative humidity of about 95 percent is required. At 5 percent humidity the bread would dry up and the fungus would not grow. So D is required, not C.
Light: fungi have no chlorophyll and do not need light; bright light and the accompanying dryness are unfavourable, so they grow best in a shady or dark place. So E is required, not F.
So the essential conditions are A, D and E only.