Four major phyla of Fungi, based on the method of producing sexual spores:

• Chytridiomycota— sexual and asexual spores motile, with posterior flagella

• Zygomycota— sexual spores are thick walled resting spores called zygospores

• Ascomycota—spores borne internally in a sac called an ascus

• Basidiomycota—spores borne externally on a club-shaped structure called a basidium

• “deuteromycetes” or Fungi Imperfecti, have no known sexual state in their life cycle.

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The four fungal phyla, plus another group, the deuteromycetes, which have no known sexual state. These are described further and pictured on the next several slides.