Question

Identify the conjugation fungi.
A. Rhizopus
B. Mucor
C. Penicillium
D. Both A and B

Answer 1

Hint: A fungus is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts, molds, and mushrooms.

Complete answer: Rhizopus cause the rot, which initially appears on the fruit as a fuzzy white mass, called the mycelium.
1. The fungus produces enzymes that deteriorate the tissue, holding the skin to the flesh of the fruit. Later, the fruit turns dark gray to black as the fungus begins to develop spherical sporangia.
2. The sporangia can reproduce asexually via mitospores (or sporangiospores, diploid or 2N), or sexually. Each sporangium, the fruiting structure, produces desiccation- and cold-resistant thick-walled zygospores (diploid or 2N) via conjugation of the isogametes (haploid or N) in the gametangia when growing conditions are not favorable.
3. Once released into the air, the spores can infect injured fruit, in both orchards and on kitchen countertops.
4. After infecting a host, such as a slice of bread, the mold (R. nigricans) will form mature zygospores within four or five days.
5. In mucor sexual reproduction takes place by gametangial conjugation.
6. Some species are homothallic (conjugation takes place between hypha of the same species) and heterothallic (conjugation occurs between hypha of opposite strain).
Sexual reproduction takes place at the end of the growing season in mucor.

So, the answer is D. Both A and B

Note: When the zygospore germinates, it undergoes meiosis and produces haploid spores, which in turn, grow into a new organism. This form of sexual reproduction in fungi is called conjugation.