Characteristics of Phylum Ascomycota:
i) They are mainly saprophytes but few species are also parasites.
ii) Their vegetative body is unicellular mainly composed of mycelium having transverse walls
iii) Flagellated cells are quite absent in this phylum.
iv) Their identifying characteristics are ascus and ascospores. Ascus is a special type of mother cell or sporangium in which mother cell (2n) undergoes metosis division giving rise to 4-8 or 16 ascospores.
v) Reserve foods arc glycogen and lipids
vi) They can reproduce by sexual, asexual or vegetative method.
Example: Saccharomyces, Penicilium etc.
