Question

Which of the following characteristics can be attributed to the zygospore of Mucor?
A. haploid in structure
B. thick-walled resting spores
C. result of asexual reproduction
D. germinates from zoospores

Answer 1

Hint: Zygospore is a dormant phase of the active spores found in lower organisms like algae and fungi. It serves as a resting spore and is usually coated with a thick wall of covering. In fungi like mucor, asexual reproduction usually takes place in very unfavorable conditions.

Complete step-by-step answer:

Mucor belongs to the Phycomycetes group of kingdom fungi, generally found in aquatic habitats and swampy areas with decaying organic matter. They usually reproduce asexually during unfavorable conditions.
It is during this phase of unfavorable conditions that zygospores come into the picture. Zygospores are thick-walled dormant spores which protect the spores from bouts of bad weather and unfavorable climatic conditions. They release the spores when the conditions are back to normal. This thick wall of the zygospore protects the spores from harsh climate and desiccation due to water logging.
After the conditions become favorable, zygospore germinates and undergoes meiosis producing haploid spores, which in turn grow into a new organism. Thus, zygospore is a very important part of mucor which contains the resting spores covered in a thick-walled covering.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: Mucor is a microbial genus of approximately 40 species of moulds in the family Mucoraceae. These species are commonly found in soil, digestive systems, plant surfaces, some cheese materials like Tomme de Savoie, rotten vegetable matter, and iron oxide residue in the biosorption process.
They are usually unable to affect any human beings or animals due to their low tolerance to temperature.