Characterization of sex-pheromone receptor genes of Fusarium species and other Sordariomycetes

Abstract

Fungi are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction involves karyogamy followed by meiosis (Burnett 1968; Alexopoulos, Mims, Blackwell 1996), while asexual reproduction involves neither meiosis nor karyogamy but mitosis. Asexual reproduction in fungi, like with many other eukaryotes and prokaryotes, occurs by fragmentation, budding, or fission (Burnett 1968; Alexopoulos, Mims, Blackwell 1996). The mitotic spores that are formed through fungal asexual reproduction are known as conidiospores or conidia (singular = conidium). These are formed on hyphae or on conidiophores that are modified hyphal branches (Burnett 1968; Alexopoulos, Mims, Blackwell 1996; Leslie, Summerell, Bullock 2006).