Basidiomycete life cycles are characterized by a long-lived dikaryotic mycelium that reproduces sexually by producing fruiting bodies called basidiocarps . Refer to Campbell, Figure 28.7 for the life cycle of a mushroom-forming basidiomycete. Haploid basidiospores grow into short-lived haploid mycelia. Each basidium immediately undergoes meiosis producing four haploid basidiospores. When mature, these sexual spores drop from the cap and are dispersed by wind.
Asexual reproduction occurs less often than in ascomycetes, but also results in conidia formation.
A rapidly growing, asexually reproducing fungus. May be saprobes or parasites on a great variety of substrates.