2. Fungi Classification
Classified based upon their structure and
reproduction
4 main groups are:
Common molds
Sac fungi
Club fungi
Imperfect fungi
3. Common Molds
These are the familiar molds that grow on meat,
cheese, and bread
Phylum zygomycota
Have life cycles that include a zygospore
Zygospore – resting spore that contains zygotes formed from
sexual phase of life cycle
Life Cycle:
Hyphae fuse forming gametangia
Through meiosis, it produces genetically different spores
4. Structure of Bread Mold
2 types of hyphae on bread mold
Rhizoids – anchor fungus to the bread, release digestive
enzymes, and absorb nutrients
Stolons – run along the surface of bread
Sporangiophores – hyphae that push into air and contain
spores
One may contain 40000 spores
5. Sac Fungi
Phylum Ascomycota
Named for ascus – the reproductive structure that
produces spores
Largest phylum of fungi
Cup fungi, yeast, etc.
6. Sac Fungi
Includes both sexual and asexual portions of life
cycle
Tiny spores called “conidia” are formed at tips of
hyphae called conidiophores
Ascus – forms within the fruiting body
This is where the two mating types fuse forming the zygote
Ascospores are the zygote (8 produced)
7. Club Fungi
Phylum Basidiomycota
Get name from specialized reproductive structure
that resembles a club
This spore bearing structure is called the “basidium”
These are found in the gills on the underside of mushroom
caps
8. Club Fungi Cont.
For reproductive structures to form, moisture and
nutrient content of soil has to be perfect
Growth of mushroom is caused by cell enlargement
due to intake of water
Basidiospores are located in gills
Can produce billions or trillions of spores
Ex: jelly fungi, puff balls, star
9. Imperfect Fungi
Phylum Deuteromycota
NO sexual phase of life cycle
Imperfect implies that we do not fully understand
their life cycle
Source of anti-biotic penicillin
