ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION
The production of fungal spores can occur either asexually or sexually. There are five phyla of fungi: Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Deuteromycota. Fungi are classified into phyla according to the type of fruiting body and sexual spores they form. Although the life cycles of each group of fungi can be complex, there are some similarities among groups.

First, spores are formed at the tips of the reproductive hyphae via asexual reproduction (usually mitosis). Because there are millions of reproductive hyphae, asexual reproduction enables the fungus to release large numbers of spores that can germinate and utilize available nutrients. Genetically, these spores are identical to the parent fungus and are haploid in terms of chromosome number.