STREPTOMYCETE

[strep.to.my.cete] n [NL Streptomycet-, Streptomyces, genus name] (1948): any of a family (Streptomycetaceae) of actinomycetes (as a streptomyces) that form vegetative mycelia which rarely break up into bacillary forms, have conidia borne on sporophores, and are typically aerobic soil saprophytes but include a few parasites of plants and animals