Apothecium Development

The paired nuclei of the penultimate cell will fuse to form the zygote. As is the case in most fungi, this will be the only diploid stage in the life cycle and will be followed immediately by meiosis to form four nuclei. Typically one mitotic division will occur to produce eight nuclei, which will become the eight ascospores. During division of the nuclei and ascospore formation, the ascus becomes elongated. 

Figure 5a-e: Ascus development. a. Crozier with binucleate penultimate cell; b. Karyogamy of binucleate cell; c. Meiosis of zygote; d. Eight nucleate stage following mitosis; e. Eight ascospores in mature ascus.

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