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Homothallic refers to the possession, within a single organism, of the resources to reproduce sexually; [1] i.e., having male and female reproductive structures on the same thallus. The opposite sexual functions are performed by different cells of a single mycelium. [2] It can be contrasted to heterothallic. It is often used to categorize fungi.
Some species are homothallic. The original report of sex in fungi, occurred two centuries ago, based on observations of the fungus Syzygites megalocarpus (Mucoromycotina) (reviewed by Idnurm [1]). This species, was subsequently used in 1904, to represent self-fertile species when the concept of two major mating strategies were developed for the ...
Syzygites megalocarpus is a homothallic fungus, which means each individual contains both mating loci and can therefore self-fertilize to form zygospores. The genes identified in the Mucoromyoctina fungi Phycomyces and Rhizopus are named sexM and sexP for the minus (-) and plus (+) mating types which these gene define.
The heterothallic life cycle of N. crassa is given in some detail, since similar life cycles are present in other heterothallic fungi. Certain heterothallic species (such as Neurospora tetrasperma) are called "pseudo-homothallic". Instead of separating into four individual spores by two meiosis events, only a single meiosis occurs, resulting in ...
These fungi are said to be homothallic, versus the normal heterothallic species with mating types. Others are secondarily homothallic, in that two compatible nuclei following meiosis migrate into each basidiospore, which is then dispersed as a pre-existing dikaryon. Often such species form only two spores per basidium, but that too varies.
Those fungi that need a partner to mate are referred to as heterothallic (self-sterile), and those fungi not needing a partner are referred to as homothallic (self-fertile). A study of DNA sequences of mating type loci from different heterothallic and homothallic species in the genus Cochliobolus suggests that homothallism can be derived from ...
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The genus Neurospora also includes homothallic species in which a single haploid individual carries both mating type loci and can undergo self-fertilization leading to meiosis and sexual reproduction. Neurospora africana is an example of such a species. [12] [13] Additionally, some "Neurospora" species are said pseudohomothallic. They carry ...