What is "conidium"

Conidium \Co*nid"i*um\, n.; pl. Conida. [NL.] (Bot.) A peculiar kind of reproductive cell found in certain fungi, and often containing zo["o]spores.

n. A fungal spore produced asexually in a conidiophore.

1. n. an asexually produced fungal spore formed on a conidiophore [syn: conidiospore]

2. [also: conidia (pl)]

Conidia, sometimes termed asexual chlamydospores, or chlamydoconidia are asexual, non-motile spores of a fungus, from the Greek word for dust, konis. They are also called mitospores due to the way they are generated through the cellular process of mitosis. The two new haploid cells are genetically identical to the haploid parent, and can develop into new organisms if conditions are favorable, and serve in biological dispersal.

Asexual reproduction in Ascomycetes (the Phylum Ascomycota) is by the formation of conidia, which are borne on specialized stalks called conidiophores. The morphology of these specialized conidiophores is often distinctive of a specific species and can therefore be used in identification of the species.

The terms "microconidia" and "macroconidia" are sometimes used.