1. Sclerotia resemble vestigial cleistothecia that lost the capacity to produce ascospores . 2. The ascospores are similarly minute, averaging 1.5 �m. 3. The perithecia hold a layer of asci which contain the ascospores . 4. Fusion of haploid nuclei occurs within reproductive structures termed haploid ascospores . 5. Its ascospores are smooth, and do not contain oil droplets. 6. The production of viable ascospores depends on successful recombinational repair during meiosis. 7. This will reduce the amount of new ascospores released in the spring. 8. The ascospores enter through the stomata to infect the plant. 9. In spring the pseudothecia release their ascospores and the cycle repeats itself. 10. Ascospores are hyaline, uniformly filamentous, and spirally flexed within asci.
