The salient features of zygomycetes:
1. Most of the species are saprophytic and live on decaying plant and animal matter in the soil. Some lead parasitic life
(Example: Entomophthora on housefly)
2. Bread mold fungi
(Example: Mucor and Rhizopus) and Coprophilous fungi (Fungi growing on dung
Example: Pilobolus) belong to this group.
3. The mycelium is branched and coenocytic.
4. Asexual reproduction by means of spores produced in sporangia.
5. Sexual reproduction is by the fusion of the gametangia which results in thick walled zygospore. It remains dormant for long periods. The zygospore undergoes meiosis and produce spores.
