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Basidiomycetes - Phylum: Basidiomycota
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The Basidiomycota are the second group which together with the Ascomycota make up the sub-kingdom: Dikarya or 'higher fungi'. With but a small number of exceptions reproduction by the members of this phylum involves cells with a double set of chromosomes. Even though the organism is non-binary, fusion of 'sex cells' of two individuduals must take place at some stage.
To many, the name Basidiomycota is synonymous with the word 'mushroom' but only about 20,000 of the 32,000+ species in the phylum produce structures like mushrooms, brackets or puffballs. The remainder sprout structures that look altogether different or they have found other means to disperse the spores they produce. |
The phylum is divided into three subphylla, although a small, fourth subphylum is sometimes added (see below). The largest of the subphylla, containing about two-thirds of all the species are the 'Higher Basidiomycetes' or Agaricomycotina. This is the subphylum that attracts the most attention on this web-site and it contains species that are known worldwide. Second in line with about 8.500 species are the 'Rusts and Allies' or Puccinomycotina. Nearly all members of this Phylum require other organisms, mostly plants,to live on and many are of agricultural significance as pests. And then, there are the 'Smuts and Allies' aka Ustilaginomycotina. A subphylum of some 1,700 mostly plant-parasitic species.
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The fourth subphylum mentioned above are the Wallemiomycotina, a small group of about 15 species of microscopic fungi. They are not dealt with further on this web-site.
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