The Zygomycota typically reproduce asexually by means of non-motile sporangiospores.
Sexual reproduction is by gametangial copulation and results in the formation of zygospores.
Some species are heterothallic and have a bipolar mating type system which is biallelic but there are some which are homothallic. In most species, a well-developed coenocytic mycelium is formed, but in parasitic forms, the thallus is often much reduced. The cell wall is composed of chitin and chitosan. They are typically saprobic, but a number of species are parasites of man, other animals, fungi and plants. Some are useful in the production of pigments used for food coloring, production of modified steroids, alcohols and fermented oriental food such as tempeh.