3.1 - Fungi

Question 1

Characteristics of fungi

Answer 1

• Almost all multicellular
• Source of energy - heterotrophic, external digestion
• Reproduces above ground by fragmentation, budding, or producing spores
• Body is usually below ground; has branched network (mycelium) with hyphae inside it.
• Has cell walls with chitin

Question 2

Main differences of fungi from plants

Answer 2

Not photosynthetic, different cell structure/reproduction methods

Question 3

Characteristics of moulds, yeast, and mushrooms

Answer 3

Moulds - forms network of hyphae called mycelium

Yeast - unicellular, evolved from fungi, reproduces by budding

Mushrooms - dikaryotic (2 nuclei), form sexual spores to reproduce

Question 4

Diseases caused by fungi

Answer 4

Animals - Athlete’s foot, ringworm, aspergillosis

Plants - apple scab

Cordyceps - parasitic fungus that infects insect hosts & uses them to reproduce

Question 5

Helpful roles of fungi in ecosystems (ex. Mycorrhiza… what is it?)

Answer 5

Ecosystems - Major decomposers on Earth, almost all plants rely on fungi to help them obtain nutrients from soil

Mycorrhiza - symbiotic relationship between fungus & plant root, where hyphae (fuzzy mould) grows around or within the root cells of the plant, which helps gives nutrients to plants. Plants give energy-rich food molecules to fungi.

Question 6

Helpful roles of fungi in humans

Answer 6

• Eating edible mushrooms/truffles

Used to make soy sauce, bread, blue cheese, and alcohol, as well as penicillin

Question 7

What kingdom is Fungi closely related to?

Answer 7

Fungi are most closely related to the Animal Kingdom (rather than the Plant Kingdom).