Life Cycle of AscomycetesText Box:
(Ascomycetes can reproduce asexually or sexually)

Text Box: 1. Ascomycetes commonly form asexual
    spores (conidia) at the of specialized hyphae.
 

Text Box: 2. Two hyphae from opposite mating types fuse.  Haploid
    nuclei from one mating type pass to the other mating type.
 

 

Text Box: Mitosis

 

Text Box: Meiosis

 Text Box: Zygote (2n)
Text Box: - Mating Type

Text Box: 4. Some of the paired nuclei
    fuse and form a diploid zygote. 
   The zygote undergoes meiosis,
   producing four haploid spores.

 Text Box: Ascocarp
Text Box:  + Mating Type
Text Box: Ascospores

Text Box: Adapted from Holt: Biology 2004
Text Box: Conidia
Text Box: Ascus
Text Box: 5. These four nuclei divide mitotically, producing eight
    haploid nuclei.  Each haploid nucleus develops into a
    spore.  They are contained in an ascus which 
    releases the spores when they are mature.