CLINICAL MEDICINE

Detailed explanation-1: -Following a period of intensive growth, fungi enter a reproductive phase by forming and releasing vast quantities of spores. Spores are usually single cells produced by fragmentation of the mycelium or within specialized structures (sporangia, gametangia, sporophores, etc.).

Detailed explanation-2: -spore, a reproductive cell capable of developing into a new individual without fusion with another reproductive cell. Spores thus differ from gametes, which are reproductive cells that must fuse in pairs in order to give rise to a new individual.

Detailed explanation-3: -Fungal spores are microscopic biological particles that allow fungi to be reproduced, serving a similar purpose to that of seeds in the plant world. Fungi decompose organic waste and are essential for recycling of carbon and minerals in our ecosystem.

Detailed explanation-4: -Some reproduce by asexual fission or by fragmentation, with each fragment forming a separate organism. Asexual reproduction occurs either with vegetative spores or through mycelia fragmentation where the fungal mycelium separates into pieces and each piece then grows into a separate mycelium.

Detailed explanation-5: -Almost all fungi reproduce asexually by producing spores. A fungal spore is a haploid cell produced by mitosis from a haploid parent cell. It is genetically identi ca l to the parent cell. Fungal spores can develop into new haploid individuals without being fertilized.