Fungi Reproduction and Spores

Fungal Reproduction

• Fungal reproduction involves various methods, including gametangial fusion, spermatization, somatogamy, and planogametic fusion.

Gametangial Fusion

• Involves fusion of entire contents of two compatible gametangia
• Walls of gametangia dissolve, and contents mix, resulting in karyogamy (e.g., Mucor, Rhizopus)

Spermatization

• Found in advanced fungi (e.g., Puccinia)
• Sex organs are absent; sexual process involves minute spore-like spermatia (male gamete) and specialized receptive hyphae (female gamete)
• Spermatia carried to receptive hyphae by air, water, or insects, and contents enter receptive hyphae through a pore

Somatogamy

• Found in higher fungi (e.g., Morchella, Agaricus, Peziza)
• Fusion of two vegetative hyphae or somatic hyphae takes over sexual function

Spore Formation

• Oidia (arthrospores): single-celled spores formed by disjointing hyphal cells
• Blastospores: formed by budding (e.g., Collybia, Coprinus)

Sexual Reproduction

• Involves formation and fusion of deuteromycetes or fungi imperfecti
• Found in all groups of fungi except fungi imperfecti
• Sexual reproduction has three phases: plasmogamy (protoplasmic fusion), karyogamy (nuclear fusion), and meiosis (reduction division of zygote)

Planogametic Fusion

• Involves fusion of two motile gametes or planogametes
• Has three types:
  • Isogamy: fusion of morphologically similar but physiologically different gametes (e.g., Synchytrium)
  • Anisogamy: fusion of morphologically and physiologically different gametes (e.g., Allomyces)
  • Oogamy: fusion of non-motile female gamete (ovum or egg) and motile male gamete (anthrozoid) in specialized gametangia (oogonium and antheridium)