Give the salient features of the class Zygomycetes.

Explanation

1. Most of the species are saprophytic and live on decaying plant and animal matter in the soil. Some lead parasitic life. Eg: Entomophthora on housefly.
2. Bread mould fungi Eg: Mucor Rhizopus and Coprophilous fungi (Fungi growing on dung Eg. Pilobolus) belong to this group.
3. The mycelium is branched and coenocytic (aseptate with many nuclei).
4. Asexual reproduction by means of spores produced in sporangia.
5. Sexual reproduction is by the fusion of the gametangia which results in thick walled zygospore. It remains dormant for long periods. The zygospore undergoes meiosis and produce spores.