Neurospora

Neurospora
Neurospora crassa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Sordariomycetes
Order: Sordariales
Family: Sordariaceae
Genus: Neurospora
Shear & B.O.Dodge (1927)
Type species
Neurospora sitophila
Shear & B.O.Dodge (1927)
Synonyms[1]
  • Gelasinospora Dowding (1933)
  • Anixiella Saito & Minoura (1948)
  • Anixiella Saito & Minoura ex Cain (1961)
  • Chrysonilia Arx (1981)
Oncom, made using Neurospora intermedia var. oncomensis

Neurospora is a genus of Ascomycete fungi. The genus name, meaning "nerve spore" refers to the characteristic striations on the spores that resemble axons.

The best known species in this genus is Neurospora crassa, a common model organism in biology. Neurospora intermedia var. oncomensis is believed to be the only mold belonging to Neurospora which is used in food production (to make oncom).[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Shear-1927 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Ho, C.C. (April 1986). "Identity and characteristics of Neurospora intermedia responsible for oncom fermentation in Indonesia". Food Microbiology. 3 (2): 115–132. doi:10.1016/S0740-0020(86)80035-1.