This ubiquitous fungi attacks bread, fruit, and vegetables, but also provides useful industrial components.  Rhizopus stolonifer is the most common bread mold, while Rhizopus nigricans produces fumaric acid which is used in making wetting agents and alkyd resins.  Cases of zygomycosis, mucormycosis, and rhinocerebral mycosis are reported by immunosuppressed individuals.

 

This genus is fast-growing and hairy on common laboratory media, but natural growth characteristics may vary.