Question

Which of the following are characteristics of Ascomycota? Check all that apply.

flagellated spores

spores produced in the ascus

lack reproduction phase

important in the food industry

important in the digestion of animals

can cause disease in plants

can cause disease in animals

Answer 1

Correct choices:
- spores produced in the ascus — Yes. Ascomycota are the sac fungi; sexual spores (ascospores) form inside an ascus.
- important in the food industry — Yes. Examples: Saccharomyces (baking, brewing), Penicillium species (cheese ripening).
- can cause disease in plants — Yes. Many plant pathogens are ascomycetes (e.g., powdery mildews, chestnut blight).
- can cause disease in animals — Yes. Some ascomycetes infect animals/humans (e.g., Candida, Aspergillus).

Not characteristics of Ascomycota:
- flagellated spores — No. Flagellated spores are characteristic of chytrids, not ascomycetes.
- lack reproduction phase — No. Ascomycetes have both sexual (ascus/ascospore) and often asexual (conidia) reproductive phases.
- important in the digestion of animals — No. Ascomycetes are not broadly important as gut symbionts for animal digestion (other fungal groups or microbes fill that role).