The zygomycetes in a phylogenetic perspective

Zygomycetes surround us in our daily life, not only as agents of disease, but also as starters of fermentation in the preparation of food products, and as pioneer degraders in food spoilage. Since many members grow easily in axenic culture and show an impressive morphology, they have been subject of studies since the mid nineteenth century. Recent progress in whole genome sequencing projects aim to determine genetic features in genomic terms, such as their remarkable ability to pioneer on virgin substrates before competing microorganisms arrive. Although they exhibit a wide variety of different lifestyles including hyperparasitism and endosaprotrophy, many aspects of their ecology are still poorly understood. This diverse ecology may explain their changing faces: assisting humanity already over thousands of years in preparing our food, but also their relentless aggression towards the weakened human host.