Question

Asexual and sexual pores found in fungi respectively are

A. Conidia and Zoospores

B. Oospores and Ascospores

C. Sporangiospores and Basidiospores

D. Ascospores and Basidiospores

Answer 1

Hint: Microscopic biological particles that allow fungi to replicate are fungal spores, serving a similar function to that of seeds in the plant world. In our environment, fungi decompose organic waste and are important for the recycling of carbon and minerals. It has been estimated that fungi are annually recycling millions of tonnes of organic waste.

Complete answer: Fungi sexually and/or asexually reproduce. Perfect fungi are sexually and asexually reproduced, whereas imperfect fungi are only asexually reproduced (by mitosis).

In both sexual and asexual reproduction, fungi develop spores that either float on the wind or hitch a ride on an animal, dispersing from the parent organism. Fungal spores are smaller than plant seeds and are lighter. Bursting free, the giant puffball mushroom releases trillions of spores.The enormous amount of spores released increases the possibility of landing in an environment that will promote growth.

By division, budding, or developing spores, fungi propagate asexually. Hyphae fragments can make new colonies emerge. Mycelial fragmentation occurs when a fungal mycelium, with each part developing into a separate mycelium, splits into parts. Somatic cells form buds in yeast. A bulge forms on the side of the cell during budding (a type of cytokinesis), the nucleus splits mitotically, and the bud finally detaches itself from the mother cell.

The most common mode of asexual reproduction is through the creation of asexual spores, formed only by one parent (by mitosis) and genetically identical to that parent. Spores make it possible for fungi to extend their spread and colonise new habitats. They may be released either outside or inside a special reproductive sac called a sporangium from the parent thallus.

Many kinds of asexual spores exist. Conidiospores are single-cell or multicellular spores that are directly released from the hypha's tip or side. In the fragmentation of a hypha, other asexual spores originate to form single cells that are released as spores; some of these have a thick wall covering the fragment. Yet some bud off the parent cell of the vegetative. Sporangiospores in a sporangium are formed.

Basidiomycetes are fungi that grow their sexual spores on a club-shaped spore-producing structure called a basidium, called basidiospores. Most basidiomycetes are fleshy fungi, such as common mushrooms, puffballs, and shelf or conch fungi, and are either saprophytes or cause wood decay, like root and stem roots of trees.

Two main types of asexual spore are produced by fungi, sporangiospores and conidia. They are distinguished by the morphology of the structure (sporophore) that produces them and by the mechanisms by which they are formed. Sporangiospores are produced and retained within a sporangium. 

Sexual reproduction in the fungi consists of three sequential stages: plasmogamy, karyogamy, and meiosis. The diploid chromosomes are pulled apart into two daughter cells, each containing a single set of chromosomes. A spore formed as a result of conjugation of gametes or nuclei (such as zygospore, ascospore, basidiospore) of opposite sex are sexual spores. So, Conidia & Zoospore are asexual spores. Oospore & Ascospore are sexual spores. Sporangiospore is asexual and basidiospore is sexual spore. Ascospores & basidiospores are sexual spores. Ascospores, Basidiospores, zygospores and oospores are the examples of sexual spores. Sporangiospores, conidia, arthrospore, chlamydospore are the examples of asexual spores.

Name of spores

Type of spores 

 Conidia & Zoospores

 Both are asexual spores

 Oospores & Ascospores

 Both are sexual spores

 Sporangiospores & basidiospores

 Asexual & sexual 

 Ascospores & basidiospores

 Both are sexual spores

The correct Answer is option (C) Sporangiospores and Basidiospores.

Note: Among fungi, spores serve a role similar to that of plant seeds. Generated and released by specialised fruiting bodies, such as the edible portion of familiar mushrooms, under sufficient conditions of humidity, temperature, and food availability, fungal spores germinate and develop into new individuals.