5 public questions tagged with this topic.
Alternaria, Colletotrichum and Trichoderma are examples of Deuteromycetes. Members of this group reproduce by asexual spores called conidia.
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 2: Biological Classification Fungi - Deuteromycetes and Economic Importance
The major fungal classes are distinguished using the morphology of the mycelium, the mode of spore formation and the nature of their fruiting bodies.
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 2: Biological Classification Fungi - Deuteromycetes and Economic Importance
Pin molds Mucor and bread molds Rhizopus traditionally placed in Zygomycota now reclassified into phylum Mucoromycota based on phylogenomics resolving previous polyphyly and establishing monophyletic groups. Mucoromycota includes Mucorales producing upright sporangiophores with columellate sporangia, fast saprotrophic growth, coenocytic mycelium lacking septa. Ascomycota lacks sporangia bearing asci, Basidiomycota produces mushrooms, Chytridiomycota possesses flagellated zoospores. Current taxonomy replaces broadly defined Zygomycota with Mucoromycota and Zoopagomycota. Hence pin and bread molds belong to Mucoromycota containing Rhizopus, Mucor, Phycomyces widely used in fermentation and food spoilage.
Ref: Campbell Biology 12th ed., Chapter 31: Mucoromycota Pin Bread Molds; NCBI Fungal Phylogeny - Spatafora et al. 2016 Mucoromycota; Mycologia
Zygomycetous fungi termed conjugation fungi highlight sexual process where two compatible hyphal tips of opposite mating types recognize via pheromones, adhere and conjugate forming progametangia that fuse completely merging cytoplasms. Term conjugation refers to temporary union of gametangia producing zygospore, reminiscent of bacterial conjugation but involving whole hyphal compartments not just DNA transfer. Club fungi Basidiomycota bear basidia, sac fungi Ascomycota asci, imperfect fungi Deuteromycota lacking sexual phase. Therefore alternative name conjugation fungi aptly describes zygomycete sexual reproduction via direct hyphal conjugation and protoplasmic fusion culminating in dormant zygospore.
Ref: Campbell Biology 12th ed., Chapter 31: Zygomycota Conjugation Fungi Alternative Name; NCERT Class 11 Phycomycetes - Conjugation; NCBI Mycology
Chytridiomycota represent most basal fungal phylum differing from higher fungi Dikarya because they lack extensive dikaryotic n+n phase with clamp connections maintaining two nuclei per cell. Their life cycle predominantly haplontic with transient diploid zygote undergoing meiosis immediately, zoospores haploid flagellated, no prolonged dikaryon forming fruiting bodies. Higher fungi evolved prolonged dikaryotic mycelium facilitating complex fruiting body development and delayed karyogamy. Chytrids do have septate hyphae occasionally, may produce conidia rarely, but not obligate parasites universally. Absence of dikaryotic stage distinguishes them, reflecting ancestral aquatic life cycle.
Ref: Campbell Biology 12th ed., Chapter 31: Chytridiomycota vs Dikarya Dikaryotic Stage; NCERT Class 11 Basal Fungi; NCBI Fungal Life Cycle Evolution Review
