Fungal Spores and Their Characteristics

These flashcards cover vocabulary related to fungal spores, their characteristics, types, and functions in the fungal life cycle.

Sporangiophone

A structure associated with spore production and dispersal in fungi.

Coanocytic

A type of fungal hypha that lacks separations between cells.

Sporangium

A receptacle in fungi where spores are produced.

Fungal Spores

Reproductive units of fungi that can be produced sexually or asexually.

Oospores

Spores produced by an oogonium, typically found in oomycetes.

Zygospores

A type of fungal spore that is produced during sexual reproduction, contributing to survival.

Sporangiaspores

Spores that are released from a sporangium and are adapted for dispersal.

Conidiospores

Asexual spores produced by fungi via mitosis, characteristic of Ascomycetes.

Teliospores

Spores produced by a telium, typically found in rust and smut fungi.

Carpospores

Spores produced by a carposporophyte, characteristic of red algae.

Tetraspore

Spores produced by a tetrasporophyte, also typical of red algae.

Zoospores

Mobile spores that possess flagella, enabling movement, found in some algae and fungi.

Aplanospores

Immobile spores that may have the potential to grow flagella.

Ballistospores

Spores that are actively discharged from the fruiting body of a fungus.

Statismospores

Spores that are not actively discharged from the fruiting body; examples include puffballs.

Meiospores

Haploid spores produced by meiosis, leading to haploid daughter cells.

Microspores

Meiospores that develop into male gametophytes.

Megaspores

Meiospores that develop into female gametophytes.

Chlamydospores

Thick-walled resting spores of fungi that survive unfavorable conditions.

Internal spores

Spores that germinate within a host organism.

External spores

Spores released from a host to infest other hosts, also called environmental spores.