Question

Explain the term zygospore fungi. How does black bread mold reproduce asexually or sexually?

Answer 1

Hint: The sexual reproduction involves fusion of gametes. Fungi can reproduce either sexually or asexually. The hyphae of the different rhizopus fuse together and form spores. The black spores can be seen in Rhizopus stolonifer. The vegetative part of the fungus is called mycelium.

Complete answer:
The life cycle of many fungi and protists includes a diploid reproductive stage called zygospore. At the end of a sporangiophore a sporangium is produced in fungi. Zygomycete is the class of the fungi which produce zygospores. It is formed in a special sporangium (the zygosporangium). Internal spores are formed by the formation of internally produced spores. The meiosis occurs in the diploid nuclei within the zygosporangium. The sporangium contains the products of meiosis. The spores contain a haploid number of chromosomes. Dispersion of spores occurs when the sporangium opens and germinates to form the next generation of haploid hyphae.
The fungi usually reproduce asexually but in some cases it can reproduce sexually also.
The spores are formed inside a sporangium by asexual reproduction. They get spread on mold and form more mold. The sporangium breakdown and spores disperse out.
The hyphae of Rhizopus Stolonifer touch the hyphae of another Rhizopus mycelium and fuse to form Zygospores by sexual reproduction. The swollen sporangia on the black tips of bread mold, Rhizopus stolonifer appear. They are packed with black spores. The germination starts when the spores land on suitable substrates and produce a new mycelium. The main part of the mold is called mycelium and it grows inside the bread.

Note: The zygospore and spores are different as zygospore is a zygosperm while the spore is the reproductive particle. It is usually a single cell. It is released from the fungus and alga. Fungi are closer to the animals and plants. Their cell wall contains chemicals. Fungus is capable of breaking down plastics in weeks rather than years.