Oospore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An oospore is a thick-walled sexual spore that develops from a fertilized oosphere in some algae, certain fungi, and oomycetes, which are fungus-like stramenopiles rather than true fungi.[1] They are believed to have evolved either through the fusion of two species or the chemically induced stimulation of mycelia, leading to oospore formation.[2]
In Oomycetes, oospores can also result from asexual reproduction, by apomixis. These haploid, non-motile spores are the site of meiosis and karyogamy in oomycetes.[3]
A dormant oospore, when observed under an electron microscope, has led researchers to draw conclusion that there is only a single central globule with other storage bodies surrounding it.[4]