Epicoccum conidia

Epicoccum is an asexual ascomycete genus that is a common saprobe both indoors and outdoors. Epicoccum can grow on many substrates. At times the outdoor concentrations are high in agricultural areas. The spores are known to be allergenic and possibly cross react with Alternaria.

Epicoccum conidia are distinctive and easy to recognize. They are large, subglobose, and multicellular with random septa. Conidia are brown and often have warts on the surface. The size range is generally 15-25 µm but they can be slightly larger. The attachment area is on the base of the spore and appears as a colorless area. The spores are formed individually on conidiophores, which are in a cluster called a sporodochium.