These are types of fungi; typically, mold is black or green,
and mildew is gray or white. Mold tends to grows on food,
whereas mildew grows on damp surfaces, like bathroom walls,
basement walls, or fabrics.
Mold grows in the form
of multicellular filaments or hyphae, while mildew has flat
growth. Mildew is often referred to as a kind of mold and is
classified as powdery (under the order Erysiphales) and downy
(under the family Peronosporaceae).
Mildew is a specific
kind of mold, usually with a flat growth habit. Mold is a fungi
that contains multiple identical nuclei. It grows in the form of
hyphae of filaments.
Mildew could be downy
or powdery: Downy mildew starts as yellow spots that first
become brighter in appearance and then the color changes to
brown. Powdery mildew is whitish in color and that slowly turn
yellowish brown and then black. Mold has a fuzzy appearance and
can be an orange, green, black, brown, pink or purple in color
and can be found in several shapes.
Some molds are used in
food production, for example, Penicillium is used in the
production of cheese, Neurospora in the production of oncom,
which is made from the by-product of tofu.
To prevent mildew at
home, keep all the areas moisture-free. There are mildew
removers available at stores to eliminate mildew. To protect
crops from mildew use mildew-resistant seeds, remove infested
plants, avoid overhead heating. To prevent mold in your
home, you need to keep all the areas dry and moisture-free.
Prolonged exposure to
mold spores can cause health problems such as allergic reactions
and respiratory problems, due to the toxins (mycotoxins) it
produces.
Mildew can cause damage
to crops and other plants it infests. Inhalation of mildew can
cause coughing, headache, scratchy throat and lung problems.
Mildew can also start growing in lungs and cause other serious
health problems.
Some molds are used in food production, in the production of
bread, soya sauce and so on. Mildew has no uses as such in food
production.