Ascomycetes
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Ascomycetes are incredibly diverse group of fungi that are characterized by their fruiting bodies called ascocarps. Ascocarps contain many spore-filled saclike asci.
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Ascomycetes vary with respect to their life cycles. Neurospora crassa is used In this example because it is a highly studied species.
Ascomycetes can reproduce asexually by releasing haploid spores called conidia from terminal hyphae cells called conidiophores. These conidia can germinate and become genetically identical mycelium.
They can also reproduce sexually by bonding conidia to a special terminal receptor cell on a mycelium of the opposite mating type. The cytoplasm of the two cells will merge together to create a dikaryotic hyphae. These hyphae will produce many dikaryotic asci. Within each ascus, the nuclei will fuse together to become diploid. They will go through meiosis to make four haploid nuclei, and will then go through mitosis to result in eight spores within each ascus. In this species, the spores are eventually ejected from the ascocarp.
Ascomycetes can reproduce asexually by releasing haploid spores called conidia from terminal hyphae cells called conidiophores. These conidia can germinate and become genetically identical mycelium.
They can also reproduce sexually by bonding conidia to a special terminal receptor cell on a mycelium of the opposite mating type. The cytoplasm of the two cells will merge together to create a dikaryotic hyphae. These hyphae will produce many dikaryotic asci. Within each ascus, the nuclei will fuse together to become diploid. They will go through meiosis to make four haploid nuclei, and will then go through mitosis to result in eight spores within each ascus. In this species, the spores are eventually ejected from the ascocarp.