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A zygospore is a diploid reproductive stage in the life cycle of many fungi and protists.Zygospores are created by the nuclear fusion of haploid cells. In fungi, zygospores are formed in zygosporangia after the fusion of specialized budding structures, from mycelia of the same (in homothallic fungi) or different mating types (in heterothallic fungi), and may be chlamydospores. [1]
The central cell, called the zygosporangium, is destined to become a spore. The zygosporangium is a unique structure to the Zygomycota and is easily recognizable in microscopy due to its characteristic dark color and spiky shape. The nuclei join in a process called karyogamy to form a zygote, which grows into a mature diploid zygomycete. A ...
An immature zygosporangium of the Rhizopus fungus forming from two fused gametangia, showing a "yoke" shape.. The name Zygomycota refers to the zygosporangia characteristically formed by the members of this clade, in which resistant spherical spores are formed during sexual reproduction.
Sporangiophores arise among distinctive, root-like rhizoids. In sexual reproduction, a dark zygospore is produced at the point where two compatible mycelia fuse. Upon germination, a zygospore produces colonies that are genetically different from either parent. Rhizopus oligosporus is used to make tempeh, a fermented food derived from soybeans.
The haploid nuclei within the zygosporangium then fuse into diploid nuclei. [5] When conditions improve, the zygosporangium germinates, undergoes meiosis and produces a sporangium, which releases spores.
At the point where two complementary gametangia fuse, a thick-walled, spherical zygosporangium develops. The zygosporangium typically contains a single zygospore. Nuclear karyogamy and meiosis (sexual recombination) occur within it.
The resting spores are formed by hyphal conjugation (conjugation of neighbouring hyphal cells or scalariform conjugations between adjacent hyphae), [2] the zygosporangium (episore) is hyaline (glass-like or transparent) or slightly pigmented and smooth or ornamented. The zygospore (endospore) is ovoid and smooth or globose to sub-globose and ...
The zygote develops a resistant cell wall, forming a single-celled zygospore, the characteristic that gives its name to this group of fungi. Meiosis occurs within the zygospore (see article Phycomyces). Upon germination, a new haploid mycelium or sporangium is formed. Some species are homothallic.