Editing Ascomycota (section)

==== Conidiogenesis and dehiscence ====
Important characteristics of the anamorphs of the Ascomycota are ''conidiogenesis'', which includes spore formation and dehiscence (separation from the parent structure). Conidiogenesis corresponds to [[Embryology]] in animals and plants and can be divided into two fundamental forms of development: ''blastic'' conidiogenesis, where the spore is already evident before it separates from the conidiogenic hypha, and ''thallic'' conidiogenesis, during which a cross-wall forms and the newly created cell develops into a spore. The spores may or may not be generated in a large-scale specialized structure that helps to spread them.

These two basic types can be further classified as follows:
* ''blastic-acropetal'' (repeated budding at the tip of the conidiogenic hypha, so that a chain of spores is formed with the youngest spores at the tip),
* ''blastic-synchronous'' (simultaneous spore formation from a central cell, sometimes with secondary acropetal chains forming from the initial spores),
* ''blastic-sympodial'' (repeated sideways spore formation from behind the leading spore, so that the oldest spore is at the main tip),
* ''blastic-annellidic'' (each spore separates and leaves a ring-shaped scar inside the scar left by the previous spore),
* ''blastic-phialidic'' (the spores arise and are ejected from the open ends of special conidiogenic cells called [[phialide]]s, which remain constant in length),
* ''basauxic'' (where a chain of conidia, in successively younger stages of development, is emitted from the mother cell),
* ''blastic-retrogressive'' (spores separate by formation of crosswalls near the tip of the conidiogenic hypha, which thus becomes progressively shorter),
* ''thallic-arthric'' (double cell walls split the conidiogenic hypha into cells that develop into short, cylindrical spores called ''arthroconidia''; sometimes every second cell dies off, leaving the arthroconidia free),
* ''thallic-solitary'' (a large bulging cell separates from the conidiogenic hypha, forms internal walls, and develops to a ''phragmospore'').

Sometimes the conidia are produced in structures visible to the naked eye, which help to distribute the spores. These structures are called "conidiomata" (singular: [[Conidium|conidioma]]), and may take the form of ''[[Pycnidium|pycnidia]]'' (which are flask-shaped and arise in the fungal tissue) or ''acervuli'' (which are cushion-shaped and arise in host tissue).

Dehiscence happens in two ways. In ''schizolytic'' dehiscence, a double-dividing wall with a central lamella (layer) forms between the cells; the central layer then breaks down thereby releasing the spores. In ''[[rhexolytic]]'' dehiscence, the cell wall that joins the spores on the outside degenerates and releases the conidia.