In both sexual and asexual reproduction, fungi produce spores that disperse from the parent organism by either floating on the wind or hitching a ride on an animal. In many fungi, reproduction begins when two compatible hyphae meet Unlike animals, fungi do not have distinct sexes, but rather mating types These are chemically determined compatibilities that dictate whether two fungal cells can merge. Sexual reproduction in fungi involves the fusion of two gametes, leading to the formation of a diploid zygote through a series of stages Each stage plays a critical role in the fusion of genetic material and the eventual return to a haploid state.
The reproductive world of fungi ranges from bursting spores to fruiting bodies.
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