Introduction of Phylum Deuteromycota Characteristics of Phylum Deuteromycota Economical importance of members of phylum Deuteromycota Trichophyton interdigidale ( cause Athlete’s foot disease) Monilinia fructigena (brown rots) Penicillium roquefortii ( manufacture of blue chesses) Penicillium chrysogenum - Antibiotic penicillin Plant pathogens Human pathogens - Candida species Human/Animal pathogens -Dermatomycosis Biological control of soil-borne diseases. INTRODUCTION Phylum Deuteromycota is a polyphyletic group of asexually-reproducing fungi that do not display a sexual phase; they are known as imperfect. They do not fit into the commonly established taxonomic classifications of fungi that are based on biological species concepts or morphological characteristics of sexual structures because their sexual form of reproduction has never been observed , hence the name imperfect fungi. It has 04 orders. Such as: Moniliales Sphaeropsidales Melanconiales Mycelia Sterlia Characteristics: Most Deuteromycota live on land with a few aquatic exceptions. They form visible mycelia with a fuzzy appearance called ‘mold’. Deuteromycota don’t possess the sexual structures that are used the classify other fungi. They are strictly asexual reproduction and conidial spores are produced. Most Deuteromycota have a well-developed, septate mycelium with distinct conidiophores. but some have a unicellular thallus. With the exception of one group, all members reproduce by means of special spores known as conidia. A few imperfect fungi lack conidia and form only sclerotia. Recombination of genetic material is known to take place between the different nuclei after some hyphae recombine.