Describe the structure of the adult Zygomycota. Are the spores of the Zygomycota flagellated or non-flagellated? Describe the stages in the fungi's reproductive cycle. Are the gametes oogamous or morphologically indistinguishable?
The units that make up a Zygomycota, or conjugation fungi, mycelium are anchored to the ground via rhizoid hyphae, which also serve to absorb nutrients, are connected to each other by stolon hyphae, and each have sporangiophore hyphae that bear spherical sporangia at the end of their stalk. The sporangia produce thousands of asexual, non-flagellated spores. After being dispersed, the spores germinate and give rise to new mycelia, thus completing the asexual reproduction cycle. Zygomycota also reproduce sexually. Where two branches from hyphae of different sexes join together, gametes (no morphological differences exist between the two sexes' gametes) form and fuse creating a diploid zygote. When the zygote germinates, it undergoes meiosis to produce a haploid sporangium. The sporangium, in turn, produces and releases asexual spores that grow into new mycelia, thus completing the sexual reproduction cycle.
