Question

Which spores do ascomycetes and basidiomycetes produce and name the fruiting body in both?

Answer 1

Fungi with sporophores (fruiting bodies) large enough to be readily visible will usually belong to one of two main groups. The Basidiomycetes or the Ascomycetes. The main difference between these two groups is in the way in which they produce their microscopic spores.

In the Basidiomycetes, the spores are produced externally, on the end of specialised cells called basidia.

In Ascomycetes, spores are produced internally, inside a sac called an ascus.

Asci and basidia are both microscopic structures.

Basidiomycetes

Ascomycetes

Fungi with spores produced externally, on specialised cells called basidia.

Typically, there are 4 spores per basidium, although this varies from 1 to many, depending on the species.

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Fungi with spores produced inside a sac called an ascus.

Each ascus usually contains 8 spores (sometimes 4, depending on the species).