The zygomycete organism Syncephalastrum spp. can often be initially confused for an Aspergillus spp. under the microscope for people starting out in fungal identification. Aspergillus spp. are differentiated from this organism because they have phialides and sometimes metulae supporting conidia. The sporangiophores of Syncephalastrum spp. have vesicles producing long tubed merosporangium containing typically five to ten merospores that break apart as they mature and the merosporangium dissolves.
If the merospore clusters were intact with five or spores linked it may be possible to identify this organism with an Air-o-cell sample. Otherwise the spore shape would be difficult to differentiate from others. The organism grows well on MEA at 25 degrees Celsius. The light colored colony and moderate growth makes it difficult to identify by only viewing the colony.
Syncephalastrum spp. growth on MEA at approx. 7 days.
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| Mature Syncephalastrum spp. merospores - N. Carlson |
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| Syncephalastrum spp.[ heads at various stages of maturity ] merosporangium on vesicles - N. Carlson 400x |
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