Question

Describe the basic fungal reproductive cycle and how it changes for Basidiomycota and Ascomycota

Answer 1

The fungi life cycle has two main type of reproduction such as sexual and asexual. A haploid phase alternates with a diploid phase in the reproductive cycle of a sexually reproducing fungus. The haploid nuclei were formed by meiotic division and followed by nuclear fusion, and resulting diploid nuclei or zygote are the key-steps of sexual reproduction. The diploid nucleus/cell undergoes further mitotic divisions, the diploid phase of the life cycle continues. The haploid nuclei/cells arise from the meiosis of the diploid nuclei, and if the haploid cells go through mitotic cell divisions, then the fungi are following the haploid phase of life cycle.

The Basidiomycetes or the Ascomycetes are two main group of fungi with sporophores (fruiting bodies). The main difference between these two groups is in the way in which they produce their microscopic spores. The spores are produced externally in the Basidiomycetes, on the end of specialized cells called basidia and the spores are produced internally in Ascomycetes inside a sac called an ascus.