Zygоmycоtа Zygоmycetes (phylum Zygomycotа) include аbout 1000 named species, but they are incredibly diverse and are some of the fastest-growing fungi. Among them are some of the more common bread molds, as well as a variety of species found on decaying organic material such as strawberries and other fruits. Some members of this group can produce and modify steroids, and as a result have use in biotechnology. Others have found uses in the production of foods such as tempeh, where they are used to partially degrade protein in soybeans to increase their digestibility. A few members are pathogens of plants and animals, including immunocompromised humans. The life cycle flows as follows: From the spores with the positive mating strain through germination and asexual reproduction, positive and negative hypha, gametogonia, zygosporangium through plasmogamy, karyogamy, meiosis, germinating zygosporangium, and germination, again completing the cycle. Screenshot 2024-02-25 at 12.24.04 PM.png