The Zygomycota are a group of fungi, the pin moulds and others, with about 1000 species. They can be identified by the fact that their hyphae are not divided by septa and that their spores are produced inside sporangia, which are held aloft on special hyphae called sporangiophores. There are two classes, the smaller, Trichomycetes, being parasites or commensals inside the guts of living arthropods. The larger class, Zygomycetes, with about 900 species, are moulds, with many being parasites of nematodes, protists and insects. Many zygomycotes are mycorrhizal and form symbiotic relationships with plants, where branches of the hyphae form intricate structures within the root cells of the host.
Subcategories 3
Sites 8
- Zygomycota - Conjugating Fungi Illustrated outline of the classification of the Zygomycota, with 26 pictures and explanatory text.
- Zygomycota: Microscopic Pin or Sugar Molds Information from the Tree of Life Web Project on these molds, including their characteristics and phylogenetic relationships and a glossary of terms.
- Spinellus fusiger Several photographs of this pin mould infecting other fungal fruiting bodies.
- Gametangia of Amoebophilus simplex Photomicrograph of the reproductive structures of this species.
- The Role of Fungi in the Production of Chocolate Tom Volk explains how Acaulospora scrobiculata forms a mycorrhizal relationship with the cacao tree, and other fungi help ferment the fruit pulp in the chocolate making process.
- Zygomycota Information from Wikipedia on this phylum of fungi the members of which are molds living on soil or decaying plant or animal material.
- Black Bread Mold Information from Wikipedia on Rhizopus stolonifer which is widely distributed and is to be found growing on aged bread and soft fruits.
- Choanephora cucurbitarum Photograph of a squash infected by this pathogen.