Phycomycetes Ascomycetes Basidiomycetes Deuteromycetes

Other Algal fungi, Sac fungi Club fungi Fungi imperfeti

name Lower fungi
Habitat Members of They are saprophytic, They grow in soil, on logs and Some members are
phycomycetes are found decomposers, tree stumps and in living saprophytes or parasites
in aquatic habitats parasitic or coprophilous plant bodies as parasites, e.g., while a large number of
and on decaying wood in (growing on dung). rusts and smuts. them are decomposers o
moist and damp places litter and help in mineral
or asobligate parasites cycling.
on plants.
Mycelium The mycelium is aseptate The mycelium is The mycelium is branched The mycelium is septate a
and coenocytic. branched and septate. branched.
and septate.
Asexual takes place by zoospores The asexual spores are The asexual spores are The deuteromycetes
reproducti (motile) or by conidia produced generally not found, but reproduce only by asexua
on aplanospores (non exogenously on the vegetative reproduction by spores known as conidia.
motile). These spores are special mycelium called fragmentation is common. It is also possible that th
endogenously produced conidiophores. Conidia asexual and vegetative st
in sporangium. on germination produce have been given one nam
mycelium. (and placed under
deuteromycetes)
Sexual A zygospore is formed by Sexual spores are called The sex organs are absent, only the asexual or
reproducti fusion of two gametes. ascospores which are but plasmogamy is brought vegetative phases of thes
on These gametes are produced endogenously about by fusion of two fungi are known. When t
similar in morphology in sac like asci (singular vegetative or somatic sexual forms of these fun
(isogamous) or ascus). These asci are cells of different strains or were discovered they we
dissimilar (anisogamous arranged in different genotypes. The resultant they were often moved t
or oogamous). types of fruiting bodies structure is dikaryotic which ascomycetes and
called ascocarps. ultimately gives rise to basidiomycetes.
basidium. Karyogamy and
meiosis take place in the
basidium producing four
basidiospores. The
basidiospores are exogenously
produced on the basidium
(pl.: basidia). The basidia are
arranged in fruiting bodies
called basidiocarps.
Examples  Mucour  Multicellular  Agaricus  Alternaria
 Rhizopus like penicillium ( mushroom)  Collectotricum
( bread mould)  Rarely  Ustilago ( smut)  Trichoderma
 Albugo unicellular like  Puccinia ( rust fungus
( parasite on yeast (
mustard) saccharomyces) Common are mushroom,
 Aspergillus bracket fungi or puffballs
 Claviceps
 Neurospora
( used in
biochemical and
genetic )
 Morels and
Truffles ( are
edible