A fungus that produce an antibiotic penicillin belongs to this class

Options

A. Deuteromycetes
B. Ascomycetes
C. Basidiomycetes
D. Phycomycetes

Answer

To determine the class of the fungus that produces the antibiotic penicillin, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Fungus**: The antibiotic penicillin is primarily produced by fungi from the genus Penicillium. The most notable species include Penicillium notatum, Penicillium rubrum, and Penicillium chrysogenum.

2. **Understand the Classification**: Fungi are classified into different groups or classes. The options provided are:
- Deuteromycetes
- Ascomycetes
- Basidiomycetes
- Phycomycetes

3. **Research the Characteristics**:
- **Deuteromycetes**: Also known as imperfect fungi, this group does not have a known sexual reproduction stage.
- **Ascomycetes**: Known as sac fungi, they reproduce sexually through ascospores and include many species that produce antibiotics.
- **Basidiomycetes**: This group includes mushrooms and is characterized by the production of basidiospores.
- **Phycomycetes**: This is a more primitive group of fungi, often aquatic and includes molds.

4. **Link the Fungus to Its Class**: Since penicillin is produced by species of the genus Penicillium, and these species are classified under the Ascomycetes due to their method of reproduction and characteristics.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the fungus that produces the antibiotic penicillin belongs to the class **Ascomycetes**.

### Final Answer:
The correct answer is **Ascomycetes** (Option B).

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