The life cycle of ascomycetes includes both asexual and sexual reproduction phases. Asexually, mycelia produce conidiophores that use mitosis to form spores, which germinate into new mycelia. Sexually, reproduction begins when one hypha produces an ascogonium and another produces an antheridium. In plasmogamy, the ascogonium and antheridium fuse. Mitosis and cell division then produce dikaryotic hyphae, which form a fruiting body known as the ascocarp. Asci develop at the tips of these hyphae. In karyogamy, the nuclei within the asci fuse to form a diploid zygote. Meiosis then produces four haploid nuclei in each ascus, followed by mitosis and cell division to yield eight haploid ascospores within the ascus. These ascospores are dispersed and germinate into new mycelia.