Question

Is Puccinia, an ascomycete?

Answer 1

Puccinia:

1. These are also known as rust fungi.
2. They generally produce 5 spores in their life cycle.
3. The sexual spores produced by them are basidiospores.
4. The species are internal obligate parasites.

Basidiomycetes:

1. The members produce a basidium as a fruiting body.
2. The sexual spores produced by them are basidiospores.
3. For example Puccinia, Ustilago, Agaricus, etc.

Ascomycetes:

These produce ascospores as sexual spores.

Therefore, Puccinia is a basidiomycete and not an ascomycete.