Penicillium
Sign in to savePenicillium () is a genus of ascomycetous fungi that is part of the mycobiome of many species and is of major importance in the natural environment, in food spoilage, and in food and drug production.
AI overview
Penicillium is a type of fungus found widely in nature and in many living organisms, where it plays an important role in natural processes. It matters because it affects food spoilage, helps produce certain foods and medicines, and is significant to the environment and the organisms that host it.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Aspergillaceae
- Image
- Penicillium Pengo.jpg
Show 3 more facts
- P1672
- penicillin
- P105
- genus
via Wikidata · CC0
Article
10 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy
- Species
- Etymology
- Characteristics
- Ecology
- Economic value
- Reproduction
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Penicillium () is a genus of ascomycetous fungi that is part of the mycobiome of many species and is of major importance in the natural environment, in food spoilage, and in food and drug production.
Some members of the genus produce penicillin, a molecule that is used as an antibiotic, which kills or stops the growth of certain kinds of bacteria. Other species are used in cheesemaking. According to the Dictionary of the Fungi (10th edition, 2008), the widespread genus contains over 300 species.