5 public questions tagged with this topic.
Deuteromycetes contain fungi whose sexual stages are unknown. When the sexual stage is discovered, the fungus is transferred to the appropriate class. The production of ascospores identifies it as an Ascomycete.
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 2: Biological Classification Fungi - Deuteromycetes and Economic Importance
Deuteromycetes are called imperfect fungi because only their asexual or vegetative phases are known. When their sexual forms are discovered, they are moved to the fungal classes to which they correctly belong.
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 2: Biological Classification Fungi - Phycomycetes Ascomycetes Basidiomycetes
Deuteromycetes are called imperfect fungi because only their asexual or vegetative phases are known. They reproduce by asexual spores called conidia.
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 2: Biological Classification Fungi - Phycomycetes Ascomycetes Basidiomycetes
Deuteromycetes traditionally designated Fungi Imperfecti represent artificial form-group where sexual teleomorphic phase remains undiscovered despite extensive culture attempts, so classification relies on asexual anamorph characteristics solely. Lack of ascocarps, basidiocarps or zygosporangia means primary taxonomic criteria of sexual reproduction cannot apply. Mycelium usually septate with dolipore or simple septa, reproduction via conidia or sterile mycelia only. Molecular phylogenetics using ITS, LSU rDNA now nests most deuteromycetes within Ascomycota and Basidiomycota indicating secondary loss of sexuality, yet practical identification continues using absence of observed sexual reproduction as diagnostic imperfect designation.
Ref: Webster & Weber Introduction to Fungi 3rd ed. Deuteromycetes; Campbell Biology 12th ed. Chapter 31
Deuteromycetes act as a temporary taxonomic placeholder in mycology. According to NCERT, they are famously termed 'imperfect fungi' strictly because only their asexual or vegetative phases of reproduction are currently known. The 'perfect' (sexual) stages have either not yet been discovered or may have been lost evolutionarily. Once the sexual stage of a member is discovered, it is properly reclassified to Ascomycetes or Basidiomycetes.
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology > Chapter 2: Biological Classification > 2.3 Kingdom Fungi
