Fungi

Question 1

Define fungi and the field of mycology**

Answer 1

Fungi is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds
mycology is the discipline of biology that studies fungi: it is known that fungi are genetically more closely related to animals than plants.

Question 2

list and describe the different characteristics of fungi**

Answer 2

Chitin, heterotrophs, bright colors, mycelia

Question 3

describe growth and the mode of nutrition of fungi**

Answer 3

unicellular or multicellular thallus
unicellular fungi are called yeasts
dimorphic fungi can be unicellular or multicellular based on their environmental conditions
- fungi display 2 different morphological stages: vegetative and reproductive
- multicellular fungi produce threadlike hyphae
- pores may be present in the sept to allow for the exchange of nutrients and small molecules between cells

nutrition: heterotrophs that absorb nutrients from outside of their bodies
- they use hydrolytic enzymes to break down complex molecules into smaller organic compounds

Question 4

explain both the sexual and asexual reproduction in fungi**

Answer 4

asexual: fragmentation: hyphae grow new colonies
budding: somatic cells in yeast form buds
producing spores: most common mode
- spores can be released outside or within the sporangium which is a special reproductive sac
- when spores are produced inside the sporangium, they are called sporangiospores

sexual: occurs in response to adverse environmental conditions. introduces genetic variation
1. plasmogamy
2. karyogamy
3. meiosis

Question 5

describe the major representative species and their key traits**

Answer 5

chytridiomycota (chytrids)
Zygomycota(conjugated fungi)
Ascomycota( sac fungi)
Basidiomycota(club fungi)
glomeromycota

Question 6

describe the role of fungi in various ecosystems**

Answer 6

they colonize most habitats on earth preferring dark, moist conditions, decomposers, produce a variety of exoenzymes to digest nutrients

Question 7

describe the relationship of fungi with other species**

Answer 7

mycorrhiza: symbiotic associations essential for one or both partners, between a fungus and a root of vascular plants

fungal mycelia use their extensive network of hyphae to obtain and deliver nutrients to the plant
plant supplies the product of photosynthesis to fuel the metabolism of the fungus

ectomycorrhizae
endomycorrhizae

arthropods depend on the fungus for protection
fungus obtains nutrients and a way to disseminate spores

Question 8

know some major fungal parasites and pathogens**

Question 9

what is the importance of fungi in human life**

Question 10

What is chitin?

Answer 10

present in the cell wall, the main characteristic that places them in a different kingdom from plants, bacteria, and some protist

Question 11

Heterotrophs

Answer 11

they acquire their food by absorbing dissolved molecules, typically secreting digestive enzymes into their environment

Question 12

What is the purpose of bright colors in fungi

Answer 12

associated with the cell wall and play a protective role against UV radiation and some fungal pigments are toxic to humans

Question 13

mycelia

Answer 13

underground fungal network of filaments

Question 14

what divides hyphae into separate cells

Answer 14

septa

Question 15

if hyphae are not separated by septa what are they made of

Answer 15

multinucleate cells

Question 16

Chytrids

Answer 16

the only fungi that have retained flagella
most are unicellular and aquatic

Question 17

conjugated fungi

Answer 17

bread mold
most are saprobes, living off decaying organic material and a few are parasites

Question 18

sac fungi

Answer 18

form a sac like structure that contains haploid ascospores
yeasts are used in baking, brewing, and wine fermentation
some are parasite to plants and animals
cordyceps is an ascomycete fungi that is a parasitic to mainly insects

Question 19

club fungi

Answer 19

club-shaped fruiting bodies called basidia, which are their reproductive organs
sometimes called gill fungi because of their gill-like structures on the underside of the cap

Question 20

ectomycorrhizae

Answer 20

form sheaths of hyphae over the root surface and extend into the extracellular spaces of the root cortex

Question 21

endomycorrhizae

Answer 21

extend arbuscules through the root cell wall and into tubes formed by invagination of the root cell plasma membrane

Question 22

fungivores

Answer 22

organisms that eat fungi

Question 23

parasitism

Answer 23

symbiotic relationship in which one member of the association benefits at eh expense of the other, cause serious damage and death by competition for nutrients or other resources

Question 24

pathogens

Answer 24

causes disease, damage to host tissues or physiology
ringworm