ascus

See also: Ascus

English

Etymology

From New Latin ascus, from Ancient Greek ἀσκός (askós, “a sac”). Doublet of askos.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæskəs/

Noun

ascus (plural asci)

1. (mycology) A sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi; it is a reproductive cell in which meiosis and an additional cell division produce eight spores.
   • 1967, Constantine. J. Alexopoulos, Harold C. Bold, Algae and Fungi, page 101:

     The one important character which distinguishes the Ascomycetes from all other fungi is the ascus (plural, asci). This is a sac-like structure in which ascospores are formed following karyogamy and meiosis.

Derived terms

• ascigerous
• asco- (and its derivatives)
• ascocarp
• ascococcus
• ascolocular
• ascomycete
• ascospore
• exoascus

Related terms

• ascon, asconoid
• askos

Translations

a sac-shaped cell present in ascomycete fungi

Finnish: itiökotelo (fi) French: asque (fr) German: Ascus (de) m Irish: ascas m Latin: ascus Portuguese: asco (pt) m Romanian: ască (ro) f Russian: аск (ru) m (ask), сумка (ru) f (sumka)

Further reading

• ascus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Ascomycota on Wikipedia.Wikipedia