Which fungal group shows prolonged dikaryotic phase?
Basidiomycota maintain extended dikaryotic phase dominating life cycle, often persisting years in wood-decaying mycelium or forming expansive fairy rings spanning meters. After plasmogamy clamp connections ensure each compartment inherits n+n nuclei; true diploid only transient in basidium before meiosis. Ascomycota have brief dikaryon confined to ascogenous hyphae, Zygomycota lack dikaryon entirely undergoing immediate karyogamy, Chytridiomycota lack. Prolonged dikaryotic growth enables massive basidiocarp development, genetic complementation and outcrossing advantage, characteristic feature exploited for mushroom cultivation and forest mycorrhizal symbiotic networks. This feature underpins diagnostic microscopy, molecular phylogenetics and evolutionary understanding crucial for NEET, CBSE and competitive examinations requiring precise conceptual clarity.
Ref: Campbell Biology 12th ed., Chapter 31: Basidiomycota Prolonged Dikaryotic Phase; NCERT Class 11 Dikaryon; NCBI Dikaryotic Mycelium