Appendix E  Classification

DOMAIN EUKARYA: Kingdom Fungi

Eukaryotic; heterotrophic; unicellular or multicellular; cell walls typically contain chitin; mostly decomposers; some parasites; some commensal or mutualistic symbionts; asexual reproduction by spore formation, budding, or fragmentation; sexual reproduction involving mating types; classified according to structure and method of reproduction.

PHYLUM ZYGOMYCOTA

(common molds) Cell walls of chitin; hyphae generally lack cross walls; sexual reproduction by conjugation produces diploid zygospores; asexual reproduction produces haploid spores; most parasites; some decomposers. Example: Rhizopus stolonifer (black bread mold).

PHYLUM ASCOMYCOTA

(sac fungi) Cell walls of chitin; hyphae have perforated cross walls; most multicellular; yeasts unicellular; sexual reproduction produces ascospores; asexual reproduction by spore formation or budding; some cause plant diseases such as chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease. Examples: Neurospora (red bread mold), baker's yeast, morels, truffles.

PHYLUM BASIDIOMYCOTA

(club fungi) Cell walls of chitin; hyphae have cross walls; sexual reproduction involves basidiospores, which are borne on club-shaped basidia; asexual reproduction by spore formation. Examples: mushrooms, puffballs, shelf fungi, rusts.

PHYLUM DEUTEROMYCOTA

(imperfect fungi) Cell walls of chitin; sexual reproduction never observed; members resemble ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, or zygomycetes. Example: Penicillium.