Ascomycota

Thesaurus

Noun

Ascomycota - a large subdivision of Eumycota including Hemiascomycetes and Plectomycetes and Pyrenomycetes and Discomycetes; sac fungi; in some classification systems considered a division of the kingdom FungiAscomycotina, subdivision Ascomycota, subdivision Ascomycotinadivision - (botany) taxonomic unit of plants corresponding to a phylumHelotiales, order Helotiales - order of fungi having asci in a disk-shaped to goblet-shaped apotheciumorder Tuberales, Tuberales - small order of fungi belonging to the subdivision Ascomycota having closed underground ascocarpsdivision Eumycota, Eumycota - true fungi; eukaryotic heterotrophic walled organisms; distinguished from Myxomycota (funguslike slime molds): comprises subdivisions Mastigomycotina; Zygomycotina; Ascomycotina; Basidiomycotina; Deuteromycotina (imperfect fungi)sac fungus - any of various ascomycetous fungi in which the spores are formed in a sac or ascusAscomycetes, class Ascomycetes - large class of higher fungi coextensive with division Ascomycota: sac fungiascomycete, ascomycetous fungus - any fungus of the class Ascomycetes (or subdivision Ascomycota) in which the spores are formed inside an ascusclass Hemiascomycetes, Hemiascomycetes - class of fungi in which no ascocarps are formed: yeasts and some plant parasitesclass Plectomycetes, Plectomycetes - class of fungi in which the fruiting body is a cleistothecium (it releases spores only on decay or disintegration)class Pyrenomycetes, Pyrenomycetes - class of fungi in which the fruiting body is a perithecium; includes powdery mildews and ergot and Neurospora

Ascomycota

Ascomycota,

a phylum of the kingdom FungiFungi
, kingdom of heterotrophic single-celled, multinucleated, or multicellular organisms, including yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. The organisms live as parasites, symbionts, or saprobes (see saprophyte).
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Ascomycota

A phylum in the kingdom Fungi, representing the largest of the major groups of fungi, and distinguished by the presence of the ascus, a specialized saclike cell in which fusion of nuclei and reduction division occur and the resulting nuclei form ascospores. In most ascomycetes, each ascus contains eight ascospores, but the number may vary from one to several hundred. In the simplest ascomycetes (yeasts), the vegetative body (thallus) is unicellular; however, in the majority of ascomycetes, the thallus is more complex and consists of a tubular, threadlike hypha with cross walls which grows in or on the substrate. These hyphae eventually form structures called ascomata (ascocarps), on or in which the asci are formed. In addition to their sexual reproduction, most ascomycetes reproduce asexually by means of conidia.

Traditionally, the structure of the ascoma and ascus has served as the basis for subdividing the Ascomycota into five classes: Hemiascomycetes, Plectomycetes, Pyrenomycetes, Discomycetes, Loculoascomycetes. The introduction of molecular data, however, is changing concepts of the relationships of different groups of ascomycetes and will eventually lead to a much-revised classification scheme.

The ascomycetes occur throughout the world in all types of habitats and on both living and dead substrates. An estimated 33,000 species are arranged in about 3300 genera, with new species being described regularly. Ecologically ascomycetes function as primary decomposers of plant materials, but they also are important as plant and human pathogens; in baking, brewing, and winemaking; in enzyme and acid production; and as sources of antibiotics and other drugs. See Eumycota, Fungi, Plant pathology, Yeast

See Ascomycota

Ascomycota

As·co·my·co·ta

(as'kō-mī-kō'tă), A phylum of fungi characterized by the presence of asci and ascospores. Some mycologists have moved the class Ascomycetes to the phylum or division level.

Ascomycota (Ascomycotina)

a diverse group of FUNGI that includes moulds with septate (see SEPTUM) HYPHAE and YEASTS. They are called ‘sac fungi’ because their sexual SPORES, ASCOSPORES, are produced in a sac-like ASCUS. Their asexual spores are usually CONIDIOSPORES, formed in long chains at the end of the CONIDIOPHORE. The term conidia means dust, and these spores are easily detached from the conidiophore and float on the air like dust. The group includes the yeasts Saccharomyces, used in brewing and bread making; Aspergillus, which produces such products as citric acid used in foods; Penicillium which produces PENICILLIN, the ANTIBIOTIC, and which can also be used in making certain cheeses; and Neurospora which is used in genetic studies. Other less beneficial members include some that attack valuable plants, for example one ASCOMYCETE is responsible for DUTCH ELM DISEASE, others are PATHOGENS of CEREALS.

Ascomycota

Related to Ascomycota: Basidiomycota, Deuteromycota

noun

Synonyms for Ascomycota

noun a large subdivision of Eumycota including Hemiascomycetes and Plectomycetes and Pyrenomycetes and Discomycetes

Synonyms

Ascomycotina
subdivision Ascomycota
subdivision Ascomycotina

Related Words

division
Helotiales
order Helotiales
order Tuberales
Tuberales
division Eumycota
Eumycota
sac fungus
Ascomycetes
class Ascomycetes
ascomycete
ascomycetous fungus
class Hemiascomycetes
Hemiascomycetes
class Plectomycetes
Plectomycetes
class Pyrenomycetes
Pyrenomycetes