Ammonite – bread pan definition
They are organisms belonging to the family of fungi (in English: Fungi) that are microscopic in the different environments that surround us, some of which can be somewhat dangerous, and some of which are very useful, with regard to bread mold. (English: Bread mold), and it grows by exploiting food compounds present in food, to break it down and then absorb it for nutritional purposes.
Mold can be distinguished by the colors it gives to the piece of bread, each according to the type of fungi growing from white, green and yellow, in addition to gray, black and others, noting that the change of Shade color is a function of changing growing conditions.
Loaf pan under a microscope
Scientists describe the shape of the loaf pan under the microscope to take on the shape of a miniature mushroom, and here is a mention of its major and most important parts:
Growing bodies or cells.
The legs that rise above the bread.
The spores, which are the small particles that develop into a complete mold, which are found at the end of the stems and are found on the surface which are released to spread.
Very small, microscopic roots or threads that extend deeply downwards, and which are often invisible to the eye of the viewer in the abstract, penetrate strongly inwards.
How does bread mold form?
Like plants growing in nature, bread mold needs a material to feed and grow, but the growth method is not the same at all, because the fungus that forms bread mold develops asexually by spreading spores on the moist piece of bread. .
And since they don’t contain chlorophyll for nutrition (the substance used to make sugars and starches from air and water), the colonies feed on the product of the disintegration of bread into small pieces. under the influence of the chemicals it produces, and so their growth gradually spreads and mold forms on the bread.
Factors contributing to the formation of mold on bread
Every structural process in nature has factors that contribute to its development and success, which ensure its continuity and development, the most important of which are:
Water: which is provided by moist bread, as it is important in many cellular chemical processes that fungal cells perform to survive and reproduce, and moisture is important to ensure mold does not dry out if exposed to heat and light. , and therefore water is the most important factor on which it depends for its growth .
Temperature: Bread mold needs a warm environment that will keep the work of enzymes and proteins that control life processes, and the temperature is 26.7 degrees Celsius. If it is lower than that, it will gradually slow the growth of mold.
Mold spores: which are similar to plant seeds because they float around in the environment around us, so if the factors mentioned above are found on the bread, their life cycle begins to develop and grow.
Bread mold growth
Fungi multiply by absorbing sugars from bread, which contains the ideal medium for their asexual growth. These materials are used for the nutrition and development of fungal colonies. Here is a simplified lifecycle:
Nutrition: unlike animal species, fungal cells initially digest their food by secreting enzymes that work to break down fairly large compounds into small organic molecules, such as starches and proteins, which are then absorbed by threads attached to the surface bread. .
The transmission of food to all the fungal cells: In this stage, the absorbed food is transmitted between the cells through the connections that allow rapid flow between them, to grow and spread little by little.
Cellular Respiration: After obtaining the necessary substance (glucose sugar) to start the process of cellular respiration, energy is produced by consuming oxygen to supplement it as needed.
The process of biosynthesis: which takes place by building large organic units and their growth after the division of filamentous cells, by consuming carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Types of Bread Pans
The types of bread molds differ depending on the different types of spores present in the environment, as follows:
Black bread pan
Black bread mold is one of the most common types of mold, and black bread mold can be found on wild fruits and vegetables, especially those growing in a humid environment, and it usually appears as blue or green forked spots on the surface of the bread. , and when left it turns the color of the spots to black, eating black mold is not dangerous, but it does cause health problems, such as: nausea, poor digestion or vomiting.
Penicillium mold
Penicillium bread mold is widely found in bread and other types of food, and there are different types that almost look alike and can only be distinguished after careful analysis. Some of these types are used to inoculate foods such as blue cheese, while others are used that produce particles This is called penicillin as an antibiotic.
It usually appears as white, gray, or cyan specks, and is not considered harmful when ingested unless the person is allergic. However, there are types of Penicillium mold that produce substances that cause fungal poisoning, which has been linked to cancer and other diseases.
Cladosporium mold
Cladosporium bread mold, as it is called bread mold, affects allergy sufferers the most, as it causes sneezing, coughing and wheezing if exposed to it for a long time, and it usually appears on the surface of bread in the form of spots of varying color, its color ranges from dark green to black, and it has an odor.
The advantages of the bread pan
It is important to know that mold in bread is harmful to health, and one should exercise caution and avoid consuming moldy bread. However, certain types of mold-forming fungi can be beneficially employed in many other uses, as following :
Cheese with a distinctive taste containing fungal cells can be made without affecting health, in addition to the contribution of the resulting enzymes to the process of artificial coagulation of milk, however, the strong taste and distinctive color of cheese may not be appreciated by some.
It has been used in the medical industry, as the mold is used in the manufacture of certain types of antibiotics, such as penicillin, for example.
Mushroom colonies contribute to the process of breaking down and recycling much of the organic matter in our ecosystem. On the other hand, moldy bread has many harms, including the following:
Fungal colonies produce mycotoxins, which are linked to cancer.
Mold spores, when exposed directly, can cause an allergic reaction which is manifested by certain symptoms, the most important of which are coughing, itchy eyes or even an asthma attack. It is necessary to resort to the nearest emergency center to avoid its development into a serious health problem.
Fungal infection that may worsen in people with an immune disorder or a group that is undergoing cancer treatment. A specialist should be contacted when certain symptoms such as nausea and vomiting appear.
In order to avoid the many damage caused by bread mold, bread must be stored properly, so that different types of mold do not spread through it.
The appearance of mold on bread is common if there is an environment conducive to its propagation, the most important of which is humidity and temperature, and some may think that it is not dangerous to remove it and to eat the rest, and this is not the case. true at all, so the whole piece of bread should be discarded, because there may be invisible fungal cells, which can cause serious allergic reactions, should be avoided for the sake of your health.
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