At a stage of their cycle, ascomycetes fungi produce the fruiting bodies like apothecium, perithecium or cleistothecium. How are these three types of fruiting bodies different from each other?
The fruiting body of ascomycetes is called ascocarp. Ascocarp can be divided into three types, viz. apothecium perithecium and cleistothecium.
(a) Apothecium is a saucer-shaped structure which is open from the upper side.
(b) Perithecium is a flask-shaped structure with a pore-like opening.
(c) Cleistothecium is a closed structure with no opening.
