Methods of Reproduction in Fungi : Asexual and Sexual Reproduction

Methods of Reproduction in Fungi

Asexual Reproduction

1. Zoospores: They are flagellate structures produced in zoosporangia (Example: Chytrids)

2.      Conidia: The spores produced on condiophores (Example: Aspergillus)

3.   Oidia/Thallospores/Arthrospores: The hypha divide and develop in to spores called oidia (Example: Erysiphe).

4.      Fission: The vegetative cell divide into 2 daughter cells. (Example: Schizosaccharomyces-yeast).

5.        Budding: A small outgrowth is developed on parent cell, which gets detached and become independent. (Example: Saccharomyces-yeast)

6.   Chlamydospore: Thick walled resting spores are called chlamydospores (Example: Fusarium).

Sexual Reproduction

1.Planogametic copulation: Fusion of motile gamete is called planogametic copulation. a. Isogamy – Fusion of morphologically and physiologicall similar gametes. (Example: Synchytrium). b. Anisogamy – Fusion of morphologically or physiologically dissimilar gametes (Example: Allomyces). c. Oogamy – Fusion of both morphologi-cally and physiologically dissimilar gam-etes. (Example: Monoblepharis)

2.        Gametangial contact: During sexual reproduction a contact is established between antheridium and Oogonium (Example: Albugo)

3. Gametangial copulation: Fusion of gametangia to form zygospore (Example: Mucor, Rhizopus).

4.   Spermatization: In this method a un-inucleate pycniospore/microconidium is transferred to receptive hyphal cell (Example: Puccinia/Neurospora)

5.    Somatogamy: Fusion of two somatic cells of the hyphae (Example: Agaricus)