What characteristic is noted in a fungus if it is viable only in yeast phase?

The characteristic noted in a fungus if it is viable only in the yeast phase is referred to as dimorphism. Dimorphic fungi have the ability to exist in two different forms: the yeast form and the mold form. The specific context of this question indicates that the fungus is able to grow and reproduce only in the yeast form, which is a type of unicellular growth, and does not exhibit viability or growth in the mold form, which is multicellular and filamentous.

Understanding dimorphism is crucial in mycology because many pathogenic fungi can switch between these forms depending on environmental conditions, host interactions, or temperature changes. This adaptability often plays a role in their pathogenicity, where the yeast form is typically associated with the infectious state in humans.

The other options relate to different concepts that aren’t directly applicable to the scenario described. For instance, the presence of ascospores refers to a reproductive structure found specifically in ascomycetes, which isn’t exclusively tied to viability in the yeast phase. Encapsulation refers to a process where some microorganisms form a protective capsule, which is not directly related to the yeast or mold phase viability. Non-viability in the mold phase is a consequence of being viable only in the yeast phase, rather than a