Question

Which of the following is the characteristic feature of Ascomycetes?
A. Hyphae
B. Spores
C. Zoospores
D. Ascospores

Answer 1

Ascomycetes is a class of fungi belonging to the Kingdom Fungi or Kingdom Mycota. Kingdom fungi is the largest kingdom after the angiosperms. Moreover, the fungi are non-green, thalloid, and heterotrophic plants. They are divided into four classes namely Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, and Deuteromycetes.

Complete answer: The ascospores are a type of sexual spores that are formed in the ascomycetes. Ascospores are endogenous in the origin as they are formed inside the ascus. Since these spores are only found in the class ascomycetes, therefore, they are named after them only.
-Hyphae are the single unit or thread of the fungi. Hyphae are found in the filamentous forms of all the classes of fungi. The singular thread is known as the hypha. Ascomycetes have a monokaryotic hypha.
-The spores are the reproductive structures of the fungi. The fungi are capable of producing several kinds of spores. Moreover, all the fungi produce one or the other kind of spores for reproduction. The formation of spores is a means of asexual reproduction in fungi. The fungi produce three kinds of spores namely zoospores, sporangiospores, and conidia. Out of the three given spores, only conidia formation can be seen in the ascomycetes.
-Zoospores are a type of asexual spores. They are the flagellated spores. The zoospores are always produced inside the zoosporangium. They are commonly seen in the oomycetes, which is a sub-classification of the Phycomycetes.
Thus, based on the above information we can conclude that the ascospores are the characteristic feature of Ascomycetes.
Hence, the correct answer is Option D.

Note: The ascospores are produced as a result of the gametangial contact. The female sex organ is known as the ascogonium and the male sex organ is known as the antheridium. The male and the female gametangia then come in contact and fuse together. The nuclei shift to the ascus thereafter. The diploid nucleus undergoes meiosis and then mitosis to produce eight ascospores.