Fungi

Question 1

Why are they important?

Answer 1

• Major decomposers on Earth –> recycle matter and are an important part of all food webs
• Symbiotic relationships with plants
• Humans use for food (mushrooms, blue cheese), yeast, and drugs (penicillin)
• Human diseases (ex. athlete’s foot)
• Causes serious plant diseases, rot wood, and damages buildings

Question 2

Characteristics

Answer 2

Multicellular (some unicellular), eukaryotic, sessile (many grow in ground), not photosynthetic (heterotrophic) –> they grow next to/within their food, releasing enzymes that digest the food and the fungi absorbs the nutrients

Question 3

General Structure

Answer 3

Often only see reproductive structure, most of body remains hidden below ground
Spores = reproductive cells

Question 4

Major Parts

Answer 4

Hyphae, Mycelium, Fruiting Body

Question 5

Hyphae

Answer 5

Microscopic threads that make up body of most fungi –> Cell wall composed of chitin, cytoplasm continuous from end to end (structure unlike animal or plant cells)

Question 6

Mycelium

Answer 6

Tangled mass of hyphae found in soil or organic matter

Question 7

Fruiting Body

Answer 7

Reproductive structure that arises from mycelium and produces spores for reproduction

Question 8

Reproduction

Answer 8

1. Generally reproduce asexually in favourable conditions - moisture & food available (ex. budding in yeast)
2. Generally reproduce sexually in unfavourable conditions - dry & shortage of food (ex. conjugation in bread mold)