Blastoconidia

Blastoconidia are a type of asexual spore produced by budding in yeasts and some fungi. They form when a small daughter cell, or bud, develops on the surface of a mother cell. The bud can detach to become an independent cell or remain attached, producing one or more chains of cells called pseudohyphae in certain species. The process is mitotic and does not involve meiosis.

Blastoconidia vary in size and shape from spherical to ovoid and may appear singly or in clusters on the parent cell or along budding chains. In many yeasts, such as Saccharomyces and Candida species, blastoconidia are a common feature of the asexual reproductive phase and are often observed in laboratory cultures and clinical specimens.

The presence and pattern of blastoconidia can aid in fungal identification, but they are not diagnostic on their own. They are distinct from sexual spores (ascospores, basidiospores) and from other asexual propagules produced by fragmentation (arthroconidia) or sporangia. In some texts, blastoconidia are referred to as blastospores; the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

Overall, blastoconidia are budding-derived asexual spores that contribute to the growth and identification of many yeasts.