Mucorales
| Mucorales | |
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| Order: | Mucorales
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Mucorales is the largest order of Zygomycete fungi
Life-cycle
Mucorales produce three types of hyphae:
- Stolon hyphae spread over the surface of substrate as the mycelium grows,
- Rhizoid hyphae penetrate the bread to digest it and to anchor the mycelium, and
- Sporangiophores are upright hyphae that form a sporangium at their tips.
Asexual mitospores (spores formed by mitosis) within the sporangia are released when mature. Germination of these spores forms the haploid hyphae of a new mycelium.
Asexual reproduction by mitospores occurs continuously. Sexual reproduction occurs only when opposite mating types (designated + and -) come in contact. Then special cells become gametes that fuse forming a zygote. The zygote develops a resistant cell wall, forming a zygospore, the characteristic that gives its name to this group of fungi. Subsequently, the zygospore germinates and forms a sporangiophore whose sporangium produces both + and - haploid spores.