Difference Between Mastigomycotina and Zygomycota

The key difference between mastigomycotina and zygomycota is that mastigomycotina is a polyphyletic group of fungi that produce flagellated cells and have rhizoids while zygomycota is a division of fungi that produce characteristic resistant spherical spores called zygospores during the sexual reproduction.

Fungi are filamentous eukaryotic organisms belonging to Kingdom Fungi. They produce both sexual and asexual spores. They can be saprophytes or parasites. There are different types of fungal groups. The major groups are mastigomycotina, zygomycota, ascomycota, basidiomycota and deuteromycota. Mastigomycotina consists of zoosporic fungi in which many are solely aquatic. Zygomycota fungi are conjugative fungi that produce characteristic zygospores. Ascomycota fungi are sac fungi that produce a sac-like structure called ascus. Basidiomycota fungi produce a club-shaped structure called a basidium. Deuteromycota fungi are fungi imperfecti, meaning that they have only the asexual or mycelial state.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Mastigomycotina 
3. What is Zygomycota
4. Similarities Between Mastigomycotina and Zygomycota
5. Side by Side Comparison – Mastigomycotina vs Zygomycota in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Mastigomycotina?

Mastigomycotina is a group of fungi that produce flagellated cells during their lifetime. It is a former polyphyletic taxonomic group. They are zoosporic fungi. They produce zoospores, which are flagellated asexual spores produced inside the zoosporangium. Many of the species are solely aquatic. They live as saprophytes or parasites. Most of them have filamentous coenocytic mycelia. However, some unicellular forms are also present.

Another feature of mastigomycotina fungi is that they may have rhizoids, unlike other fungi. Moreover, they show centric nuclear division. Their perfect state of spores is oospores, so they reproduce sexually by oospores. This division of fungi comprises three zoosporic classes as Chytridiomycetes, Hyphochytriomycetes, and Oomycetes. These classes are classified based on the flagellation of the zoospores. Chytridiomycetes produce posteriorly uniflagellate zoospores.  Hyphochytriomycetes zoospores are anteriorly uniflagellated.

What is Zygomycota?

Zygomycota is a major division of fungi that show both sexual and asexual reproduction. They are distinguished by the production of zygospores during sexual reproduction. Zygospore production is a unique character of zygomycota. Moreover, they reproduce asexually by nonmotile, single-celled sporangiospores.

Zygomycota fungi mycelia have different mating types. They form hyphal extensions called gametangia. Gametangia fuse with each other and form a structure called zygosporangium. This zygosporangium can remain dormant for long periods of time during harsh conditions. Most zygomycota fungi are aseptate, but few species have septa on their mycelia. Zygomycota fungi can be saprophytes, plant mutualists, inhabitants of arthropod guts and pathogens. Mucor, Rhizopus and Mortierella are three familiar genera of zygomycota.

What are the Similarities Between Mastigomycotina and Zygomycota?

• Mastigomycotina and zygomycota consist of lower fungi belonging to Kingdom Fungi.
• They are subdivisions of eumycota.
• They have aseptate mycelia.
• Their cell walls are made up of chitin.
• They are saprophytes; some species are parasitic.

What is the Difference Between Mastigomycotina and Zygomycota?

Mastigomycotina is a division of fungi that produce flagellated cells called zoospores. In contrast, zygomycota is a division of fungi that produce zygospores. So, this is the key difference between mastigomycotina and zygomycota. Besides, most mastigomycotina fungi are solely aquatic while most zygomycota fungi are terrestrial.

Moreover, the classes belonging to mastigomycotina are chytridiomycetes, hyphochytriomycetes and oomycetes while zygomycetes and trichomycetes are the two classes belonging to zygomycota. The unique feature of mastigomycotina is the production of flagellated zoospores while the production of zygospores is unique to zygomycotina.

Below infographic summarizes the difference between mastigomycotina and zygomycota.

Summary – Mastigomycotina vs Zygomycota

Mastigomycotina and zygomycota are two distinct divisions of Kingdom Fungi. They are lower fungi having aseptate hyphae. Mastigomycotina fungi produce flagellated cells, and they are mostly aquatic. On the other hand, zygomycota fungi produce unique spore type called zygospores, and they are mostly terrestrial. Thus, this is the summary of difference between mastigomycotina and zygomycota.

Reference:

1. “Mastigomycotina”. Slideshare.Net, 2020, Available here.
2. “Zygomycota | Mycology Online”. Mycology.Adelaide.Edu.Au, 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Image from page 143 of “Agricultural news” (1902-22)” By Internet Archive Book Images (No known copyright restrictions) via Flickr
2. “Mature sporangium of a Mucor sp. fungus” By CDC/Dr. Lucille K. Georg – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Image Library (PHIL) (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia