Question

What is coenocytic hyphae?

Answer 1

Coenocytic hyphae are nonseptate, also called aseptate, meaning they are one long cell that is not divided into compartments. The word coenocytic (coenocyte) comes from the Greek words koinós meaning ‘common’ and kýtos which means ‘box’ (cell). Coenocytic hyphae result from nuclear divisions within a cell without an accompanying division of the cytoplasm (cytokinesis). Coenocytic hyphae have several nuclei scattered around in the cytoplasm along with ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, and endoplasmic reticulum.