Characteristics of zygomycetes; features of the class zygomycete

Zygomycetes:
– they do not have motile cells
– produce resting spore called zygospore
– mainly terrestrial
– extensive coenocytic mycelia
– mycelia contain chitin
– sexual reproduction by conjugation
– Union of two mating types
– asexual reproduction by sporangia
– mostly saprophytic, few are parasitic
– e.g. rhizopus, mucor
– produce sexual spores in asci
– cell wall contain chitin
– septate mycelia/cross-wall in mycelia which allow passage of organelles
– sexual reproduction involve fusion of ascogonia and antheridia/spermatia
– ascogenous hypha (dikaryon) produce asci by hook/crozier method
– asci is usually concentrated in a fruiting body
– fruiting body is called ascocarp
– fruiting body contain both vegetative and reproductive hyphae
– characteristic of species
Three main types: apothecium, perithecium and cleistothecium
– asexual reproduction by conidiophores bearing asexual spores; conidia
– e.g yeaster, erysiphe, moulinia