Practice question

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.