Question

Why are only 8 ascospores produced in ascomycetes?

Answer 1

Ascospores:

1. The spores which are formed inside the ascus as a product of sexual reproduction are called ascospores.
2. There are typically only 8 ascospores in each of the asci, but since there can be many asci, each fungus might also have hundreds of ascospores.
3. Typically, a single ascus can contain eight ascospores.
4. The eight spores are produced by general meiosis followed by a mitotic division. Two meiotic divisions turn the original diploid zygote nucleus into four haploid ones.