Diversity of life fungal reproduction

Hyphae

cellular filaments that spread out to reach a substrate

mycelium

a vast network of hyphae

Hyphal growth

Grow outwards resulting in a colony forming rings. 

Asexual reproduction

Spores produced via asexual budding (pinching off from the parent cell), fragmentation of the mycelium which leads to regeneration and formation of a new organism

Sexual reproduction

in all groups except mucormycota

Sexual reproduction in Basidiomycetes

Compatible hyphae meet from different individuals and form a clamp connection. They then transfer nuclei to each other with the hyphae becoming dikaryotic (containing pairs of unfused nuclei).  This allows exchange of genetic information.

Basidiomycete life cycle

Clamp connection, Dikaryotic mycelium, formation of a sporocarp, Fusing of nuclei, meiosis, release of basidiospores to be dispersed and complete reproduction.

Fungal spore purposes

Survive environmental conditions, small units for dispersal protected by a thick cell wall

Ascomycete asexual reproduction

Spores called Conidia, produced by mitosis on stalks called conidiophores. Common allergens

Ascomycete Sexual reproduction

2 hyphae fuse via an antheridium to form a dikaryotic mycelium, growth of an ascocarp followed by karyogamy in the ascocarp and meiosis producing ascospores.