Chapter 18.13, Problem 1MQ

Summary Introduction

Fungi reproduce by both sexual and asexual methods and leads to the development of sexual and asexual spores. The fungi are classified into various groups depending upon the type of reproductive spores produced by the members of different groups.

The classification of fungi is based on the evolutionary relationships of the fungi. There are five different phyla in fungi, namely: Chytridiomycetes, Zygomycetes, Glomeromycetes, Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes.

Chytridiomycetes have a distinguishing feature that they are the only fungi which produce cells with a single flagellum known as zoospores which are sexual spores. The sexual spores in the Basidiomycetes are known as the basidiospores which are borne in basidium.