Basidiomycota

Abstract Basidiomycetes are the group of fungi that reproduce and are dispersed by means of basidiospores produced from basidia, specialized cells in which meiosis occurs. The basidiomycetes are one of the two most advanced groups of the kingdom Fungi, the other being the ascomycetes. The two groups probably originated from a common ancestor during the evolution of life on land. Basidiomycetes and ascomycetes are collectively known as ‘higher’ or ‘septate’ fungi, and share many features that distinguish them from the simpler and more primitive aseptate lower fungi, Zygomycota and Chytridiomycota.