Final Flashcards
Ascomycota
A phylum of fungi characterized by the production of spores in sac-like structures called asci.
Basidiomycota
Definition: A phylum of fungi known for producing spores on club-shaped structures called basidia.
Chytridiomycota
Definition: A primitive group of fungi characterized by flagellated spores (zoospores). Often aquatic and includes pathogens like Batrachochytrium.
Double fertilization
Definition: A process in flowering plants where one sperm fertilizes the egg to form a zygote, and the other sperm fertilizes the central cell to form endosperm.
Ectomycorrhiza
Definition: A symbiotic relationship where fungal hyphae form a sheath around plant roots, aiding in nutrient and water absorption.
Halophiles
Definition: Organisms that thrive in environments with high salt concentrations, such as salt lakes and salt mines.
Endomycorrhiza
Definition: A symbiotic relationship where fungal hyphae penetrate plant root cells, enhancing nutrient exchange.
Methanogens
Definition: Archaea that produce methane as a byproduct of their metabolism, often found in anaerobic environments.
Ovule
Definition: A structure in seed plants containing the female gametophyte, which develops into a seed after fertilization.
Integument
Definition: A protective layer of tissue surrounding the ovule in seed plants, eventually forming the seed coat.
Plasmogamy
Definition: The fusion of cytoplasm from two parent fungi without the fusion of nuclei, forming a heterokaryotic stage.
Seed
Definition: A plant structure containing an embryo, stored nutrients, and a protective coat, allowing for dispersal and germination.
Sporopollenin
Definition: A durable polymer found in the walls of spores and pollen, protecting them from environmental damage.
Synapomorphy
Definition: A shared derived trait unique to a particular group of organisms, used to identify evolutionary relationships.
Symplesiomorphy
Definition: A shared ancestral trait found in multiple taxa but inherited from a common ancestor that existed earlier.
