The association of Staphylococcus and Penicillium is

Options

A. Commensalism
B. Amensalism
C. Competition
D. Predation

Answer

To determine the type of association between Staphylococcus and Penicillium, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Organisms**:
- Staphylococcus is a genus of bacteria that can be harmful to humans and other organisms.
- Penicillium is a genus of mold that is known for producing the antibiotic penicillin.

2. **Understand the Interaction**:
- Penicillium produces penicillin, which is an antibiotic. This antibiotic inhibits the growth of bacteria, including Staphylococcus.
- Therefore, the presence of Penicillium negatively affects Staphylococcus by preventing its growth.

3. **Classify the Type of Interaction**:
- The interaction where one organism (Penicillium) produces a substance (penicillin) that harms another organism (Staphylococcus) is known as **amensalism**.
- In amensalism, one species is inhibited or destroyed while the other remains unaffected.

4. **Eliminate Other Options**:
- **Commensalism**: One organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. This does not apply here as Staphylococcus is harmed.
- **Competition**: Both organisms compete for resources, which is not the case here as one organism is being inhibited.
- **Predation**: Involves one organism (predator) feeding on another (prey), which is not applicable since Penicillium does not consume Staphylococcus.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the analysis, the association between Staphylococcus and Penicillium is classified as **amensalism**.

### Final Answer:
The association of Staphylococcus and Penicillium is **amensalism**.

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