Fungi Life Cycle

Fungal reproduction typically involves the release of vast numbers of haploid spores, which are transported easily over great distances by wind or water. When the hyphae meet, their cytoplasms fuse. But this fusion of cytoplasm is often not followed immediately by the fusion of "parental" nuclei. Thus, many fungi have what is called a heterokaryotic stage, in which cells contain two genetically distinct haploid nuclei. Hours, days, or even centuries may pass before the parental nuclei fuse, forming the usually short-lived diploid phase. Zygotes undergo meiosis producing haploid spores. In asexual reproduction, spore-producing structures arise from haploid mycelia have undergo neither a heterokaryotic stage nor meiosis. Many fungi that reproduce sexually can also produce spores asexually. In addition, asexual reproduction is the only known means of spore production in some fungi, informally known as imperfect fungi. Mold and yeast is also imperfect fungi. The term mold refers to any rapidly growing fungi that reproduces asexually by producing spores, often at the tips of specialized hyphae. The term yeast refers to any single-celled fungus. -Biology book pg 356

 

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