anamorphteleomorph

Anamorphteleomorph is a term used in mycology to describe the two developmental forms that many fungi can exhibit: the anamorph, or asexual form, and the teleomorph, or sexual form. Together these forms reflect the full life cycle of pleomorphic fungi, though the organism as a whole is more properly described as a holomorph when all morphs are considered.

The anamorph is the reproductive stage in which fungi propagate asexually, typically by mitotically produced conidia or conidiospores. This form often spreads rapidly and can be the most frequently observed stage in laboratory or environmental samples. The teleomorph is the sexual stage, producing sexual spores (ascospores in Ascomycota or basidiospores in Basidiomycota) within specialized structures such as asci, perithecia, cleistothecia, or basidiocarps. Sexual reproduction introduces genetic recombination and can enhance adaptability.

Historically, many fungi had separate genus names for their anamorphs and teleomorphs. With modern taxonomy and the “one fungus, one name” principle, naming tends to favor a single official name for the species, and references to anamorph or teleomorph are often used only to describe the observed morph. The term holomorph is used to denote the complete organism encompassing all morphs. Classic pairings include Aspergillus (anamorph) with Eurotium (teleomorph) and Penicillium (anamorph) with Talaromyces (teleomorph).

Understanding anamorphs and teleomorphs is important for taxonomy, diagnostics, and biology of fungi, as different life stages can affect identification, ecology, and applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry.