Fungi Lifecycles

The actual lifecycle of a pathogenic fungi will vary; however, the following lifecycle helps to understand the general approach taken by many fungi.
• Stage 1: Spore germination on surface of plant.
• Stage 2: Penetration of plant by spores and hyphae, through openings (e.g. stomata), damaged epidermal tissue (e.g. via cut cells from mown leaves).
• Stage 3: Parasitic hyphae and mycelium grow within plant tissue, infecting it and extracting nutrients from its cells, typically killing the infected part of the plant, the severity of which will depend on how far the mycelium and infection has been able to spread.
• Stage 4: Fruiting body (pycnidium) produced.
• Stage 5: Spores produced, liberated (by being detached from the pycnidium), dispersed and spread to aid infect new plants.