This was a revolutionary inclusion for its time. Alexopoulos and Mims recognized that certain water molds were evolutionarily distinct from true fungi.
Often called "Fungi Imperfecti," this is not a natural phylogenetic group but a "holding place" for fungi where the sexual stage has either been lost or not yet observed. classification of fungi by alexopoulos and mims
The (1979) stands as a landmark in mycology—a comprehensive, accessible system that organized fungal diversity for over two decades. Although largely replaced by phylogenetic systems (e.g., Dictionary of the Fungi , 10th ed., 2008; the Mycota series; and the Index Fungorum database), its morphological and life-cycle-based framework remains foundational for teaching fungal biology. It successfully bridged traditional mycology and the molecular era, and many of its descriptive terms and group concepts are still in everyday use. This was a revolutionary inclusion for its time
| Division | Motile cells | Cell wall | Sexual reproduction | Key examples | |----------|--------------|-----------|---------------------|---------------| | Myxomycota | Yes (amoeboflagellate) | None (or cellulose) | Spores in fruiting bodies | Physarum | | Mastigomycota | Yes (zoospores) | Cellulose | Oospores | Phytophthora | | Amastigomycota | No | Chitin | Zygospores, ascospores, basidiospores | Mucor, Agaricus | The (1979) stands as a landmark in mycology—a
Constantine John Alexopoulos, a Greek-American mycologist, and Charles Winston Mims, an American mycologist, joined forces to tackle the daunting task of classifying fungi. Their collaboration led to the development of a widely accepted system, which was first introduced in the 1960s.