Lichtheimia ramosa
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| Lichtheimia ramosa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Mucoromycota |
| Class: | Mucoromycetes |
| Order: | Mucorales |
| Family: | Lichtheimiaceae |
| Genus: | Lichtheimia |
| Species: | L. ramosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Lichtheimia ramosa (Zopf) Vuill. (1903) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Lichtheimia ramosa is a saprotrophic zygomycete, typically found in soil or dead plant material.[1] It is a thermotolerant fungus that has also been known to act as an opportunistic pathogen—infecting both humans and animals.[2][3]
It was previously known as Absidia ramosa,[4] but has been known by its current name since the Absidia and Lichtheimia genera were differentiated from each other.[5] There has also previously been some disagreement in the scientific community over whether L. ramosa and L. corymbifera were distinct species.[6][7] But L. ramosa was recently established as a distinct species based on genome sequence analysis.[4]
Description
Asexual reproduction of L. ramosa is done by use of sporangiospore-producing sporangia. The sporangiospores are smooth, lightly colored, and bear a long ellipsoid shape. The sporangia are pear shaped and often sport branched sporangiophores.[4] Sexual reproduction in L. ramosa is achieved through zygospores. These zygospores have been found to have equatorial rings with suspensors and bear no appendages.[1]