1 | P a g e

PEZIZA Chlamydospores are thick-walled and intercalary. Germination of Systematic position chlamydospore forms new mycelium. Division — Eumycota Sexual reproduction Subdivision — Ascomycotina No definite sex organs (antheridia Class — Discomycetes and ascogonia) are formed in a majority Order — of the species, including P. vesiculosus. Family — Plasmogamy leading to the apothecia — Peziza formation occurs either by somatogamy

(copulation of the terminal cells of two Occurrence different vegetative hyphae) or by Majority of Peziza spp. are autogamy (fusion of two nuclei of the saprophytes which grow on dung, same vegetative cell). decaying or burnt wood, or on richly The fusion cell contains dikaryon. manured soil during rainy season. Ascogenous hyphae develop from fusion Peziza is commonly called cup- cell. due to presence of cup-shaped The ascogenous hyphae are apothecia. multicellular, and their cells are P. coccinia grows on decayed branches binucleate. in woods on mineral rich soil. The terminal cell of each of the

ascogenous hypha functions as an ascus Somatic parts mother cell. The mycelium is profusely branched. Two nuclei of the ascus mother cell fuse Its hyphae are septate and forms dense to form a synkaryon. This diploid nucleus network. Cells are uninucleate or divides meiotically and then mitotically multinucleate. The perennial mycelium to form eight haploid nuclei, which get remains hidden in the substratum on organized into eight ascospores. which it is growing. Many sterile hyphae are intermingled with the asci, called paraphyses. The ascospore is uninucleate. Mature ascocarp The ascocarp is cup-shaped, which is called apothecium.

Asexual reproduction Peziza reproduces asexually by the formation of conidia and chlamydospores. Conidia are thin walled and develop exogenously on the tips of the specialized hyphae, called It contains a short stipe and a cup conidiophores. Each conidium shaped disc. The basal portion of the germinates to form new mycelium. apothecium is called hypothecium. It is generally thick and fleshy. The outer

Dept. of Botany/ ANC, Patna/ Fungi/ Sushil 2 | P a g e layer of the hypothecium is called excipulum.

The asci and paraphyses are arranged perpendicular to the surface of the hymenium, and are almost parallel to each other. Each ascus contains eight ascospores. Each Ascospore germinates into a new mycelium.

Dept. of Botany/ ANC, Patna/ Fungi/ Sushil