1.4 Fungi

Question 1

fungal cell wall

Answer 1

made of mixed substances - includes chitin

Question 2

fungal cytoplasm

Answer 2

many organelles (bc fungus manufacture digestive enzymes)

Question 3

how do fungus feed?

Answer 3

saprotrophic nutrition

MYCELIUM has branching HYPHAE - penetrates food
CYTOPLASM releases digestive enzymes
soluble products of digestion absorbed via diffusion/active transport

Question 4

how do fungi reproduce?

Answer 4

single-celled yeasts: asexually - binary fission

all others: produce spores
SPORANGIUM bursts open, spores dispersed, land on new food source
germinate, form new MYCELIUM

Question 5

requirements of fungi

Answer 5

moist environment (to absorb soluble digested products in solution)
warm environment (enzymes optimum temp)
nutrient source (raw material & energy)

don’t need light

Question 6

parasitic fungi

Answer 6

produce digestive enzymes AFTER killing the host + no more soluble foods from tissues

Question 7

single-cell fungus parts

Answer 7

cell wall (contains chitin)
cell membrane
cytoplasm
nucleus

Question 8

impact of fungi

Answer 8

decomposers

• vital for nutrient cycles
• destroy materials

mould consume human food
agents of disease

food source e.g. mushrooms
used in biotechnology (brewing & baking)