Question

A) What is the natural habitat of a penicillium (penicillin)?

B) How does penicillium (penicillin) acquire nutrients and transform energy?

C) What is the type of movement of a penicillium (penicillin)?

D) What is the ecological role (niche) of a penicillium (penicillin)?

E) Name a unique structural feature of a penicillium (penicillin).

Answer 1

Answer-A: Penicillium is found in decaying vegetation lands, in soil, in air, indoor home environments and sometimes on spoiled food.

Answer-B: Penicillium feed upon the dead and decaying organic matter. They secrete hydrolytic enzymes that convert the complex organic matter into simpler particles. Depending upon the nature of organic molecules (lipid/ carbohyderates/ amino acids), they can obtain energy by undergoing various metabolic processes such as Beta-oxidation, Glycolysis, Transamination or deamination.

Answer-C: Movement of Penicillium occurs by conidiospores. Spores are dispersed in air and on reaching the new site, it grows into new organism.

Answer-D: As Penicillium grows on dead and decaying organic matter, so this is its ecological role. This means that It helps in eliminating the biodegradable waste from the environment due to their decomposition action.

Answer-E: They have branched hyphae network and characterized by the presence of fingire-like phillades.