Fungalpedia – Note 2544, Mucor
Mucor. Fresen.
Citation when using this data: Boonmee S et al. 2021 – Fungalpedia, Mucoromycota.
Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig 1
Classification: Mucoraceae, Mucorales, Incertae sedis, Mucoromycetes, Mucoromycotina, Mucoromycota, Fungi
Notes: Mucor was described by Fresenius (1850), and contains the largest number of species within the Mucorales (Benny et al. 2014; Walther et al. 2013). Species of Mucor are characterized by the formation of sporangia, equally and unequally shaped suspensors, as well as the presence of apophysis, rhizoids, and sporangiola (Walther et al. 2013; Wagner et al. 2019). Mucor species are known to be saprobes that are usually isolated from dung, soil, water, food products, other plant debris, or human clinical specimens (Benny 2008; Álvarez et al. 2011; Walther et al. 2013; Wanasinghe et al. 2018). Some species have positive or negative impacts on human activities. Several species of Mucor have important biotechnological applications and are used in Asia for the production of fermented foods and beverages (Batra and Millner 1974; Nout and Aidoo 2010). Mucor belongs to the main genera causing mucormycoses (Jeong et al. 2019). To date, 12 species are known to be involved in infections (Wagner et al. 2019). Mucor contains 76 accepted species (Walther et al. 2019).
During an investigation of fungi of the order Mucorales from insects in the Jeonnam Province, Korea, a new species Mucor harpali was isolated from the head of a bombardier beetle (Harpalus sp.). The new species is described and illustrated herein based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analyses.
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Mucor.
Figure 1 – Mucor harpali (CNUFC ICT18001, ex-type living culture). a A bombardier beetle of Harpalus sp. belonging to Coleoptera. b Colony on synthetic mucor agar (SMA). c Colony on potato dextrose agar (PDA). d Colony on malt extract agar (MEA). e, f Sporangiophores and sporangia. g Sterile sporangium. h–j Typical columellae. k Sporangiospores. l Rhizoids (Fig. e: observed under a stereomicroscope; Figs. f–l: light microscope). Scale bars: f–l = 20 μm.
References
Batra LR, Millner PD 1974 – Some Asian fermented foods and beverages. Mycologia 66:942–950.
Fresenius G 1850 – Beiträge zur Mykologie. Hefte 1. Frankfurt 1:1–38.
Entry by
Saranyaphat Boonmee, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand, School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand
Published online 6 June 2026