At a stage of their cycle, ascomycetes fungi produce the fruiting bodies like apothecium, perithecium or cleistothecium. How are these three types of fruiting bodies different from each other?

Question

Philoid · Accepted Answer

Ascocarp i.e. the fruiting body present in the ascomycetes are divided into three types i.e apothecium, perithecium and cleistothecium. This division is based on the difference in shapes of the fruiting body and presence and absence of the opening lid called the ostiole.

• Apothecium: It’s a saucer or cup shaped, open fruiting body.

• Perithecium: Flask shaped fruiting body. With an opening lid called the ostiole.

• Cleistothecium: It’s a closed spherical structure. Ostiole is absent.