Spores

Definition

Spores are reproductive units capable of developing into a new organism without sexual fusion. In fungi, they are often produced in large quantities and can be dispersed through various environmental mechanisms like wind or water.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Fungal spores can be asexual or sexual, with asexual spores typically being more abundant.
2. Asexual spores, such as conidia and sporangiospores, are produced by mitosis.
3. Sexual spores include zygospores, ascospores, and basidiospores and result from the fusion of two compatible nuclei.
4. Spores play a significant role in the distribution and survival of fungi, allowing them to colonize diverse environments.
5. Many fungi produce specialized structures like sporangia or fruiting bodies to protect and disseminate their spores.

Review Questions

• What is the main function of fungal spores?
• Name two types of asexual fungal spores.
• How do sexual fungal spores differ from asexual ones?

Related terms

Hyphae:

Filamentous structures that make up the mycelium of a fungus.

Mycelium: The vegetative part of a fungus consisting of a network of hyphae.

Sporangium: A structure in which spores are produced and stored in some fungi.