ZYGOMYCOTA (CHARACTERISTICS)

• Phylum Zygomycota


  • Production of sexual spores called zygospores
  • Coenocytic hyphae, with septa only to separate hyphae from reproductive structures
• Rhizopus stolonifer


  • A decomposer that breaks down organic material such as bread, rice and other foods
• Life cycle of Rhizopus stolonifer

  Alternation of generation between diploid and haploid stage in sexual reproduction
• Hyphae of Zygomycota


  • Heterothallic, meaning an individual fungal hypha is self-sterile and mates only with a hypha of a different mating type
• Asexual reproduction in Zygomycota

  1. Occurs when conditions become favorable

  2. Hundreds of haploid spores develop within each sporangium and are dispersed through the air