Home • Backusella circina FSU 941 v1.0
Backusella circina
Ruptured sporangium without sporangial wall, showing columella and subglobose spores Credit Andrii Gryganskyi.

Backusella circina J.J. Ellis & Hesselt. (1969) is a typical ubiquitous Mucoralean fungus found in different natural habitats all over the planet. The characteristic morphological feature, which distinguishes Backusella, is a formation of two types of asexual spores: terminal, multispored, deliquescent-walled sporangia, and laterally formed persistent-walled sporangia that can be either uni- or multispored. Both spore types are formed simultaneously. Zygospores of this heterothallic fungus have opposed suspensors.

It is a thermophilic fungus, able to grow in a wide range of temperatures. It was found in soil, plant debris, and dung of various animals. Backusella circina is one of the common compost inhabitants involved in its degradation in earlier stages of composting. Some of Backusella circina strains were patented for secretive fermentation of lipids as several other zygomycetes.

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