conidium

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

noun

Botany.

plural

conidia 

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

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.

Other Word Forms

• conidial adjective
• conidian 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.

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

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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.

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In these three genera the conidia are cast off with a jerk somewhat in the same way as the sporangium of Pilobolus.

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

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