What is the Difference Between Ascospores and Conidia?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Ascospores and conidia are two types of spores found in the life cycle of fungi. The main differences between them are:
- Reproduction: Ascospores are sexual spores produced during sexual reproduction, while conidia are asexual spores produced during asexual reproduction.
- Production sites: Ascospores are produced inside ascii, while conidia are produced inside conidiophores.
- Division process: Ascospores generate from meiosis division, whereas conidia generate from mitotic division.
- Ploidy: Ascospores have a haploid ploidy, while conidia can have either haploid or diploid ploidy.
- Germination and infection: Ascospores and conidia may differ in their germination and infection processes. For example, in the fungus Didymella rabiei, ascospores germinated over a wider range of water potentials than conidia, and their germ tubes were longer than those of conidia at most water potentials and temperatures.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Ascospores and Conidia? Comparative Table: Ascospores vs Conidia
Comparative Table: Ascospores vs Conidia
Here is a table comparing the differences between ascospores and conidia:
Feature | Ascospores | Conidia |
---|---|---|
Type of spores | Sexual spores | Asexual spores |
Produced in | Asci | Conidiophores |
Result of | Meiosis division | Mitotic division |
Reproduction | Sexual reproduction | Asexual reproduction |
Production | Inside asci | Inside conidiophores |
Function | Reproductive cells involved in sexual reproduction | Reproductive cells involved in asexual reproduction, adapted for dispersal and survival in unfavorable conditions |
In summary, ascospores are sexual spores produced by sexual reproduction in structures called asci, while conidia are asexual spores produced by asexual reproduction in structures called conidiophores.
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