Mold

This article is about the fungi. See also the manufacturing process molding. Mold or mould also refers to soil or earth, particularly soil that is loose and suitable for planting. Mold is also a town in Flintshire, in Wales.

Note that in British English mold is spelt mould

Moldy cream cheese

Molds (or moulds) are various fungi that cover surfaces as fluffy mycelium and usually produce masses of asexual, sometimes sexual spores. The molds are not an actual taxonomic or phylogenetic grouping – they can be found in the divisions Zygomycota, Deuteromycota or Ascomycota.

The presence of mold usually implies decay, although some molds are used deliberately in, for example cheesemaking, and for the production of antibiotics.

The mold Neurospora crassa is commonly used as a model organism in scientific experiments.

See also:

• toxic mold, Mycotoxin, Aflatoxin
• slime mould, water mould
• yeasts are a family of fungi closely related to molds.
• foods produced using cultured molds: cheese, tempeh, Quorn and some sausages
• indoor air quality
• mildew

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