The zygomycetes belong to the distinct phylum Zygomycota and are essentially found worldwide. The Zygomycetes class of fungi has more than 1,000 different species.

Zygomycetes are a unique class of fungi because they have the capacity for both sexual and asexual reproduction (by producing zygospores). Several factors, such as the availability of hosts and food, water quality, and other considerations, may affect this reproductive method.

A few examples of Zygomycetes include the following:

Dimargaritales

Order Dimargaritales are parasitic fungi that live inside the gastrointestinal systems of insects. They can survive without a host if necessary because they are facultative parasites. Dimargaritaceae, which has three genera, is the only family in this order.

  • Dimargaris (D. verticellata, D. bacillispora, D. arida, etc.)
  • Dispira (D. implicata, D. cornuta, D. parvispora, and so on)
  • Tieghemiomyces (T. parasiticus, T. californicus)

Bread Mould

Although it is most frequently found in tropical and subtropical locations, Rhizopus stolonifer (also called bread mould) is one of the most widespread fungi in the world. It is a frequent catalyst for food storage to spoil.

Mucorales

Mucorales is the most significant Zygomycete order. Pin mould fungi, which cause black bread mould, are found in this order. There are 300+ species, 11 families including the Backusellaceae, Mycotyphaceae, and Syncephalastraceae, and 56 genera including:

  • Actinomucor (A. taiwanensis, A. elegans var. elegans)
  • Backusella (B. circina, B. ctenidia, B. lamprospora)
  • Chlamydoabsidia (C. padenii)
  • Mycotypha (M. indica, M. africana, M. microspora)

Basidiobolales

Additionally, the other Zygomycetes are frequently placed with the order Basidiobolales. It contains the genus Basidiobolus and the zygomycosis-causing species B. ranarum.

Diseases and Zygomycetes

Humans may contract diseases from zygomycetes. Immune system-compromised individuals are especially vulnerable to diseases brought on by Zygomycetes.

The National Institutes of Health have stated explicitly that those with malnutrition, neutropenia or diabetes mellitus, and people on persistent immunosuppressive medication, iron chelation therapy, chronic prednisone use, and use of antibiotics are all at risk of acquiring diseases due to zygomycetes.

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