ascomocarps

Ascocarps are the fruiting bodies of sac fungi, members of the phylum Ascomycota. They enclose asci, the sac-like cells in which sexual spores, called ascospores, develop. The ascocarp represents a multicellular structure that forms after sexual reproduction and serves to protect the developing asci and promote spore dispersal.

Morphology among ascocarps is highly diverse, but they are commonly classified into three main types: apothecia, perithecia, and cleistothecia. Apothecia are open, cup- or disk-shaped structures with asci exposed on the exterior surface. Perithecia are flask-shaped and closed except for a small opening at the top, called an ostiole, through which spores exit. Cleistothecia are completely enclosed spheres or ovoid bodies with no opening; asci are released by rupture or decay. Some fungi produce pseudothecia, which are intermediate structures with asci arranged in internal locules within a matrix.

Inside the ascocarp, asci form and generate ascospores by meiosis followed by mitosis; most asci contain eight ascospores, though the number can vary among species. The release of ascospores is often coordinated with environmental cues to optimize dispersal.

Ecologically, ascocarps occur in a wide range of habitats and nutritional modes. They are found in saprotrophic, pathogenic, and endophytic fungi, and their fungal partners contribute to lichens and various symbiotic associations. Ascocarps also include economically important fungi, such as Morchella (morels) and several truffle-forming species. Because their morphology and reproductive strategies vary so widely, ascocarps are central to the taxonomy and phylogeny of many Ascomycota groups.