conidium

[ koh-nid-ee-uhm, kuh- ]

noun

, Botany.

, plural co·nid·i·a [koh-, nid, -ee-, uh, k, uh, -].

1. (in fungi) an asexual spore formed by abstriction at the top of a hyphal branch.

conidium

/ kəʊˈnɪdɪəm /

noun

1. an asexual spore formed at the tip of a specialized hypha (conidiophore) in fungi such as Penicillium

conidium

/ kə-nĭd′ē-əm /

, Plural conidia

1. An asexually produced fungal spore, formed on a conidiophore. Most conidia are dispersed by the wind and can endure extremes of cold, heat, and dryness. When conditions are favorable, they germinate and grow into hyphae.

Derived Forms

• coˈnidial, adjective

Other Words From

• co·nidi·al co·nidi·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conidium¹

1865–70; < Greek kón ( is ) dust (akin to incinerate ) + -idium

Word History and Origins

Origin of conidium¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek konis dust + ium

Example Sentences

These spores are conidia, asexually-produced reproductive cells, and are termed a Stage I infection.

From Scientific American

The fungus reproduces asexually, “meaning it makes a type of spore called a conidium,” Flaherty says.

From US News

Bees have been shown to carry the spores of Sclerotinia and infect the stigmas of Bilberries, etc., with them; and flies convey the conidia of Ergot from grain to grain.

From Project Gutenberg

Just as the uredospores and aecidiospores both show these specialized characters in the case of Puccinia graminis so we find that both the conidia and ascospores of E. graminis show this phenomenon.

From Project Gutenberg

The spores of Ferns, ascospores, and some conidia are also liberated explosively.

From Project Gutenberg