Ch.21 - Fungi

Question 1

Describe the process of sexual reproduction in a Rhizopus.

Answer 1

Nuclei move into the swellings of opposite strains of hyphae. A progametangium is formed. The progametangia grows and meet in the middle to form a gametangia. Nuclei fuse together inside the gametangia, forming diploid zygotes. A tough black wall called a zygospore forms. The zygospore germinates by meiosis when conditions are favourable. A haploid hypha grows out and produces a sporangium at the tip. The sporangium bursts releasing haploid spores that produce new hyphae.