Chapter 12 Flashcards
The major groups of phyla
- Basidiomycota
- Ascomycota
- Zygomycota
- Glomeromycota
What is an anamorph?
- asexual reproductive stage
How do fungi reproduce?
- they can have a sexual stage, an asexual stage or both
- can be in any phylum
What are general benefits of asexual reproduction?
- Greater flexibility in growth
- Greater flexibility in dispersal
- Enhanced survival
What does it mean to say “greater flexibility in growth”?
- Fast propagation and colonization
- Several generations of spores can be produced in a single growing season
What does it mean to say “greater flexibility in dispersal”?
- Dissemination of a species
- Dispersed by wind, water, and animals
What does it mean to say “enhanced survival”?
- Reproduction in the absence of opposite mating type
- Resistant propagules
Most molds are asexual states of ____________.
- Ascomycetes
In what phylum do most species of fungi belong?
- ascomycota
Ascomycota fungi are also called
- anamorphic fungi , mitosporic fungi , conidial fungi, imperfect fungi and fungi imperfecti
Some ascomycota species are _______, affecting both human, animals and plants
- pathogenic
What are characteristics of the Penicillium species?
- Common saprotrophic fungi
- Widespread
- Isolated from soil
- Decaying organic substances and plant parts
- Look like a brush
What are examples of how the Penicillium species is used?
- Bleu Cheese
- Gorgonzola
- Danish Blue
- Roquefort
- Stilton
- penicillium camemberti- type of cheese
- penicilium nalgiovense- meat curing process (salami)
What are characteristics of the Aspergillus species?
- Filamentous, cosmopolitan and ubiquitous fungus found in nature
- Isolated from soil, plant debris, and indoor air environment
- Concern as indoor mold
What are common types of the Aspergillus species?
- aspergillus nidulans
- aspergillus niger
The Aspergillus species is a major source of _________________.
- citric acid
- accounts for 99% of global citric acid production
How did the WW1 shortage of citric acid affect the way it’s made today?
- Because of the shortage, people found news ways to make it using the fungus
What are examples of products that contain citric acid?
- soda
- skittles
- beano
- soy sauce
Beano is specifically made from aspergillus _____
- niger
Soy sauce is specifically made from aspergillus _____
- oryzae
What are characteristics of the Fusarium species?
- Filamentous fungi widely distributed in the soil
- Most are harmless saprotrophs
- Some are plant pathogens
- Some produce mycotoxins in cereal crops that can affect animal and human health
Where do Fusarium infections occur?
- Can occur in humans with normal immune systems
- Infections can occur in nails and cornea
What is Fusarium oxysporum also know as?
- agent green
What does Fusarium oxysporum do?
- causes plant disease Fusarium wilt, colonizes xylem and blocks water flow resulting in wilting, yellowing, death
- infects over 100 plant species
What is the history of Fusarium oxysporum?
- Discovered it was a destructive pathogen on Hawaiian coca (cocaine)
- US government wanted to use it for eradication of coca in Columbian and Andean countries, war on drugs
- Seen as biological warfare so Clinton stopped it
What are characteristics of the Trichoderma species?
- Common soil fungus
- Some important mycoparasites
- Produce chitinases
What is the pro of the Trichoderma species?
- biocontrol
What is the con of the Trichoderma species?
- contaminates mushrooms
What enzyme does the Trichoderma reesei produce?
- cellulase
What does cellulase do?
- breaks down cellulose (plants, fibers)
- important for nutrient recycling, holy grail of biofuel production
How was cellulase discovered?
- Isolated from Solomon Islands during WWII bc it was breaking down US Army tents and uniforms
How is cellulase currently being used?
- used in biotechnology and basic research
What is an example of the use of cellulase in the real world?
- to make stone washed jeans, or fungal-digested jeans
What is cellulase known as?
- the holy grail of biofuel production
What can fungi be used for?
- fuel, scientists discovered that fungus could fuel a car
What is Pestalotiopsis microspora?
- fungus that degrades plastic
What is significant about Cyclosporin?
- changed the face of transplantation, decreased morbidity and enabled organ trasnplantation
Where is cyclosporin isolated from?
- Tolypocladium inflatum and Elaphocordyceps subsessilis
