Fungi

Reproduction

Asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction does not involve the union of nuclei, sex cells
or sex organs. It is accomplished by
1.Fission: Fission of somatic cells yields two similar daughter
cells.

Transverse fission

2. Budding: Budding of somatic cells or spores, each bud a

small outgrowth of parent cell developing into a new
individual.
3. Fragmentation: Fragment of the hyphal cell each fragment
becoming a new organism.

4. Spore formation: There are many kinds of asexual spores.

i) Sporangiospores: These single celled are formed within sacs
called sporangia at the end of special hypha (sporangiophore).
Aplanaspores are non motile sporangiospores.
Zoospores are motile sporangiospores.
ii) Conidia: Conidia are formed at the tip or side of hypha.
Microconidia- single celled conidia.
Macrocinidia- large multicelled conidia.
iii) Oidia or Orthro spores: These are single celled spores.
iv) Clamydospores: These are thick walled, single celled
spores, highly resistant to adverse conditions. These are
spores formed by budding.

Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction is by fusion of nuclei of two parent cells.
The process of sexual reproduction begins with the joining of two
cells and fusion of their protoplasts (plasmogamy) thus enabling
the two haploid nuclei of two mating types to fuse together to form
a diploid nucleus.
This is followed by meiosis, which again reduces the number of
chromosomes to the haploid numbers.

The sex organelles of fungi, if they are present are called

gametangia.
They form differentiated sex cells (gametes) or may contain instead
one or more gamete nuclei.
If the male and female gametangia are morphologically different,
the male gametangia is called the antheridium and female
gametangia is called oogonium.

The various method of sexual reproduction is as follows:

1.Gametic copulation: Fusion of naked gametes one or both of
which are motile.
2. Gamete- gametangial copulation: Two gametangia come into
contact but dont fuse; the male nucleus migrates through a pore
or fertilization tube into the female gametangium.
3. Gametangial copulation: Two gametangia or their protoplasts
fuse and give rise to a zygote that develops into a resting spore.
4. Somatic copulation: Fusion of somatic or vegetative cells.
5. Spermatization: Union of a special male structure called a
spermatium with a female receptive structure.

Sexual spores which are produced by the fusion of two nuclei

occur less frequently, later and insmall number than do asexual
spores. There are several types of sexual spores.
Ascospores: These single celled spores are produced in a sac like
structure called ascus. There are usually 8 ascospores in each ascus.
Basidiospores: These single celled spores are borne on a club
shaped structure called basidium.

3.Zygospores: Zygospores are large thick walled spores formed

when the tips of two sexually compatible hyphae or gametangia of
certain fungi fuse together.
4. Oospores: These are formed with a special female structure, the
oogonium. Fertilization of the eggs or oospores by male
gametes formed in the antheridium gives rise to oospores.
Asexual and sexual spores may be surrounded by highly organised
protective structures called fruiting bodies. Asexual fruiting bodies
have names such as acrvulus & pycnidium. Sexual fruiting bodies
have names such as perithecium & apothecium.