sporangiospore

biology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

A sporangiospore is a type of asexual spore produced within a saclike structure called a sporangium. This is characteristic of more primitive fungi, where the entire contents of the sporangium divide to form these spores. Sporangiospores can be either motile, with flagella (zoospores), or non-motile (aplanospores). When a sporangiospore lands in a suitable environment, it germinates and grows into a new fungal individual. This reproductive method differs from more advanced fungi, which typically produce asexual spores called conidia exogenously.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

bacteria
Sporulation
…aerial or substrate mycelia, or sporangiospores, which are formed in specialized sacs called sporangia.
Read More
…aerial or substrate mycelia, or sporangiospores, which are formed in specialized sacs called sporangia.
Read More

fungus
Sporophores and spores
…contents cleave into spores, called sporangiospores. Thus, they differ from more advanced fungi in that their asexual spores are endogenous. Sporangiospores are either naked and flagellated (zoospores) or walled and nonmotile (aplanospores). The more primitive aquatic and terrestrial fungi tend to produce zoospores. The zoospores of aquatic fungi and funguslike…
Read More
…contents cleave into spores, called sporangiospores. Thus, they differ from more advanced fungi in that their asexual spores are endogenous. Sporangiospores are either naked and flagellated (zoospores) or walled and nonmotile (aplanospores). The more primitive aquatic and terrestrial fungi tend to produce zoospores. The zoospores of aquatic fungi and funguslike…
Read More