#ascospores

• Asci — The plural form of the noun 'ascus'; microscopic reproductive cells specific to fungi of the class Ascomycetes, having the appearance of elongated sacs or tubes. Inside these cellular structures, following the process of meiosis followed by mitosis, ascospores (usually eight) are formed, ensuring the dissemination and perpetuation of the species in the environment.
• Ascocarp — The fruiting body characteristic of fungi belonging to the phylum Ascomycota, inside of which the asci containing ascospores are formed. This reproductive structure exhibits various forms (cleistothecium, perithecium, apothecium) and plays an essential role in the fungal life cycle, ensuring the protection and efficient dissemination of spores into the surrounding environment.