Fungi Flashcards
2 broad descriptions of fungi
Eukaryotic and nonphotosynthetic
Fungi cell walls contain these 2 things
Beta glucans (long polymer of D-glucose) and chitin (polysaccharide chain of N-acetylglucosamine)
Long polymer of D-glucose present in fungal cell walls
Beta glucans
Polysaccharide chain of N-acetylglucosamine that is present in fungal cell walls
Chitin
Fungal cell membranes contain this
Ergosterol
(contrast to animal cells that contain cholesterol)
Single-celled fungi
Yeast
Mutlicellular fungi
Molds
Dimorphic fungi exist as yeast at this temperature
Physiologic temperature
(in tissue and when nutrients are abundant)
Dimorphic fungi exist as mold at this temperature
Ambient temperatures
(when conditions are less than optimal)
Fungi produce spores for airborne dissemination when they are in this form
Mold-like at ambient temperatures or when conditions are less than optimal
Do fungi carry out sexual or asexual reproduction?
Both
This is the basis for traditional fungal classification
Sexual reproduction
3 main classes of fungi that reproduce sexually
Murcormycetes/Zygomycetes
Ascomycetes
Basidiomycetes
Sexual spores of mucormycetes aka zygomycetes
Zygospores
Asexual spores of mucormycetes aka zygomycetes
Sporangiospores
Type of hyphae of mucormycetes aka zygomycetes
Continuous
Sexual spores of ascomycetes
Ascospores
Asexual spores of ascomycetes
Conidiospores
Largest group of sexually reproducing fungi
Ascomycetes
Hyphae of ascomycetes
Septate hyphae
Sexual spores of basidiomycetes
Basidiospores
Asexual spores of basidiomycetes
Conidiospores
Hyphae of basidiomycetes
Septate
Asexual spores that are contained in a structure
Sporangiospores (e.g. Mucormycetes)
Asexual spores that are “born naked” on specialized structures
Conidiospores (e.g. Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes)
2 types of asexual spores
Sporangiospores if they are contained in a structure (Mucormycetes)
Conidia if they are “born naked” on specialized structures (Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes)
2 Asexual spores that form by fragmentation of hyphae
Arthrospores and chlamydospores
Asexual spores that are rounded, thick-walled, resistant to heat and drying, and form by fragmentation of hyphae
Chlamydospores