1. Zygomycota

2. General characteristics
Hyphae are coenocytic
Flagellated spores are absent
Most reproduce asexually by producing sporangiospores within a special sac called the sporangium.
Sexual spores are called zygospores contained within a zygosporangium formed following gametangial fusion / copulation

3. Classification Two classes: Zygomycetes and Trichomycetes. Zygomycetes
870 species in 124 genera, 32 families and 10 orders.
Trichomycetes
218 species in 55 genera, 6 families and 3 orders.

4. Class: zygomycete. order mucorales Family Family Mucoraceae
Mortierellaceae
Family
Family
Thamnidiaceae
Chaenophoraceae
Family
Family
Cephalidaceae
Pilobolaceae

5. Asexual reproduction
Reproduce asexually by sporangiospores in most orders of the Zygomycetes, conidia in the Entomophthorales and arthrospores in some Trichomycetes
Sporangium types (4 types)
True sporangium
Sporangioles - much smaller than true sporangia.  No columella produced and few spores (1-50)
Monosporous sporangium (one-spored sporangium)
Merosporangium - sac containing sporangiospores that occur in a linear sequence

7. columella
sporangium
sporangiophore
rhizoids
Rhizopus

8. Sexual Reproduction Gametangial copulation
Homo- & heterothallic species
Heterothallism the condition of being self-sterile, requiring a partner for sexual reproduction
Homothallism the condition of being self fertile; able to reproduce sexually without a partner  exhibited among species in this phylum
zygos (Gr.) - yoke, joining
Refers to the fusion of gametangia to form a unique structure called the zygosporangium
Zygosporangium
gametangium

9. Sexual Reproduction - + Mycelium Progametangia karyogamy Zygospore
Suspensors
Zygospore
Zygote
karyogamy

10. Zygomycota Life Cycle

11. Order Mucorales 30% of known zygomycetes (~300 spp.)
Well developed, typically coenocytic mycelium
Wall composition of chitosan, chitin and polyglucoronic acid
Asexual reproduction by formation of sporangiospores cleaved out from the cytoplasm of sporangia
Chlamydospores may be formed
Called mucoralean or mucoraceous fungi

12. Mucorales Members of this group are the "weeds" of the fungal world
Common genera include Mucor, Absidia, Rhizopus, and Pilobolus.
Grow and invade quickly on easily digestible substrates, such as those containing starches, sugars, and hemicelluloses
Can act as parasites and/or cause diseases in plants, animals and some insects and humans
In humans, such diseases are opportunistic and occur in an immunocompromised person (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, AIDS)

13. Order Mucorales: Body plan
rhizoids: root-like hyphae that adhere reproductive structures to substrate
stolon: connect two groups of rhizoids

14. Classification of mucorales
Mucorales is divided into the following families:
1- Mucoraceae: sporangia always present, columellae present, zygospor usually naked;
wall of the sporangium homogenous, not cuticularized, usually diffluent, sporangia of one sort.
2- Thamnidiaceae: sporangia of two – sorts, primary and secondary. e.g. Thamnidium sp.

15. 3- Pilobolaceae: wall cuticularized and persistent above,thin and diffluent below. E.g. pilobolus sp.

16. 4- Mortierellaceae: columella absent; zygospore enveloped in a dense hyphal covering. E.g. mortierelle sp.