Step 1: Parmelia is a lichen-forming ascomycete fungus that produces sexual fruiting bodies (apothecia). Neurospora is a classic ascomycete with a well characterised sexual cycle used widely in genetics research. Taphrina is an ascomycete that produces asci directly on the host surface as part of its sexual reproduction.
Step 2: Cercospora, in contrast, is traditionally classified as a Deuteromycete (Fungi Imperfecti) because only its asexual, conidial (imperfect) stage has been observed, no sexual stage has been documented for it in classical taxonomy.
Step 3: So the fungus without a known sexual stage among these options is Cercospora.