Classification of Fungi 21.2

Zygospore

• Resting spore that contains zygotes formed during the sexual phase of a mold’s life cycle.

Rhizoid• In fungi, a root like hypha that penetrates the

surface of an object; in mosses, a long, thin cell that anchors the moss to the ground and absorbs water and minerals from the surrounding soil.

Stolon

• In fungi, a stem like hypha that runs along the surface of an object; in plants, a long, trailing stem that produces roots when it touches the ground.

Gametangium

• Gamete-producing structure found in mold.

Conidium

• Tiny fungal spore that forms at the tips of specialized hyphae in ascomycetes.

Ascus

• Structure within the fruiting body of an ascomycetes in which two of different mating types fuse.

Ascospore

• Haploid spore produced within the ascus of ascomycetes.

Budding

• Asexual process by which yeasts increase in number; process of attaching a bud to a plant to produce a new branch.

Basidium

• Spore-bearing structure of a basidiomycetes.

Basidiospore • Spore in basidiomycetes that germinates to

produce haploid primary mycelia.

Key Concept

• Zygonmycetes have life cycles that include a zygospore.

Key Concept

• The phylum Ascomycota is named for the ascus, a reproductive structure that contains spores.

Key Concept

• The Deuteromycota are fungi that cannot be placed in other phyla because researchers have never been able to observe a sexual phase in their life cycles.