Spores produced by fungi belonging to which phylum are called ascospores?

Ascospores are specifically produced by fungi that belong to the phylum Ascomycota. This group, often referred to as sac fungi, is characterized by the formation of spores in a specialized sac-like structure called an ascus. During reproduction, typically meiosis occurs within the ascus, leading to the production of these ascospores.

The other phyla mentioned have different methods of spore production. For example, fungi in Zygomycota produce zygospores, while those in Basidiomycota produce basidiospores. Chytridiomycota, on the other hand, primarily produce flagellated spores known as zoospores. This distinction in spore types is a significant characteristic that helps classify and identify various fungi within their respective phyla.