Fungal Taxonomy Overview

Chytridiomycota

• Mostly aquatic fungi with flagellated spores called zoospores
• Exhibit both sexual and asexual reproduction
• Examples:
  • Allomyces - a water mold chytrid
  • Batrachytium dendrobatidis - causes chytridiomycosis in amphibians

Zygomycota

• Form zygospores, which are reproductive structures capable of surviving harsh conditions
• Zygospores form during sexual reproduction
• Terrestrial fungi that depend on decaying material
• Have coenocytic hyphae (multinucleated)
• Examples:
  • Rhizopus stolonifer - black bread mold
  • Pilobolus - grows on dung

Glomeromycota

• Form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations with plant roots for nutrient exchange, a mutualistic relationship
• Reproduction through multinucleated spores
• Example: Glomus

Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)

• Form asci, sac-like structures containing sexual spores (ascospores)
• Also produce asexual spores called conidia
• Examples:
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae - baker's yeast
  • Penicillium - produce antibiotics
  • Aspergillus - used in fermentation, some are pathogenic

Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)

• Form basidia, club-shaped structures that contain spores
• Typically have complex life cycles with both asexual and sexual stages
• Examples:
  • Agaricus bisporus - edible mushrooms
  • Ustilago maydis - corn smut
  • Ganoderma lucidum - used in traditional medicine

Deuteromycota (Fungi Imperfecti)

• Lack a known sexual reproduction phase (anamorphic fungi)
• Reproduce asexually through conidia
• Examples:
  • Candida albicans
  • Aspergillus niger - produces citric acid

Lichens

• Symbiotic association between fungi (usually Ascomycota) and photosynthetic organisms (algae)
• Used as bioindicators