Deuteromycetes

• Commonly known as imperfect fungi because only the asexual or vegetative phases of these fungi are known.
• When the sexual forms of these fungi were discovered they were moved into classes they rightly belong to.
• It is also possible that the asexual and vegetative stage have been given one name (and placed under deuteromycetes) and the sexual stage another (and placed under another class).
• Later when the linkages were established, the fungi were correctly identified and moved out of deuteromycetes.
• Once perfect (sexual) stages of members of deuteromycetes were discovered they were often moved to ascomycetes and basidiomycetes.
• Deuteromycetes reproduce only by asexual spores (conidia).
• The mycelium is septate and branched.
• Some are saprophytes or parasites while majority are decomposers of litter and help in mineral cycling.
• E.g. Alternaria, Colletotrichum and Trichoderma.