Fungi Flashcards
What are fungi important for in the environment?
Important decomposers and cause disease in plants, animals, and humans
What are the two main types of fungal cells based on their structure?
Aseptate - do not have septa and have many nuclei per cell.
Septate - is divided up by septa which have single or multiple pores.
How do hyphae grow?
By hyphal extension only at the extreme tips (apical growth)
They also form branches this forms a mycelium (mycelial mat) which spreads radially
What are the three nutritional strategies of fungi?
- Saprotrophy
- Parasitism
- Symbiosis
What is mycology?
The scientific discipline devoted to fungi
What is a mycosis?
The diseases caused by fungi in animals and humans
Fungi primarily grow in which types of environments?
Moist, dark areas
What type of nutrition do fungi exhibit?
Absorptive nutrition
What are the four zones of hyphal growth?
- Apical growth zone
- Absorption zone
- Storage zone
- Senescence zone
What is the primary method of asexual reproduction in fungi?
Spore formation
True or False: Fungi can reproduce both sexually and asexually.
True
What are the three types of asexual spores mentioned?
- Sporangiospores - spores develop within a sac.
- Condiospores - The spores are not enclosed within a sac: but produced at the tips.
- Blastospores - Produced from a vegetative mother cell by budding.
What is SAPROTROPHY in fungi?
Utilisation of dead plant, animal, or microbial remains
What is the role of hydrolytic enzymes in fungi?
Digest external substrates
What is the primary source of carbon for fungi?
Organic compounds
Fill in the blank: Fungi lack _______ and are eukaryotic organisms.
chlorophyll
What are the main elements fungi utilize for nutrition?
- Carbon
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Sulphur
What are the beneficial effects of fungi?
- Degradation of organic material
- Fermented foods and drink
- Antibiotic production
- Pharmaceutical production
What are hallucinogenic properties associated with?
Certain fungal toxins
What type of fungi primarily cause mycoses?
Fungi that grow on or in the body
What is the significance of sexual spores in fungi?
More resistant to desiccation
What is the function of the Golgi apparatus in fungal cells?
Secretory and export system of proteins
What is the typical structure of a fungal cell wall?
Plasma membrane, nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and vacuoles
What is the economic impact of fungi?
Destroy human food supply causing starvation
What are the fungal cell structures
oCell Envelope: plasma membrane, which acts as a SPM
oNucleus: Relatively small
oMitochondria: site of respiratory mechanism
oEndoplasmic Reticulum: ribosomes site for protein synthesis
oGolgi apparatus and vesicles: secretory and export system of proteins
oVacuoles: intracellular reservoir
oPeroxisome: oxidative utilisation of carbon and nitrogen sources
What are three different structures of fungi
Yeasts- microscopic
Moulds-macroscopic
Vegetative body – thallus
What are three different structures of fungi
Yeasts- microscopic
Moulds-macroscopic
Vegetative body – thallus
Where are carbon nutrition sources found?
Carbon is found in the form of structural material, such as cellulose, lignin, chitin and keratin
How do fungi get their nutrition from nitrogen?
Nitrogen nutrition: fungi are able to utilise a variety of nitrogen compounds preferentially amino acids followed by ammonium
Name a method of sexual reproduction in fungi
The fusion of two nuclei-meiosis.
Produces new progeny with a combination of genes from different parent nuclei.
What are the disadvantages of fungi
Food Spoilage
Plant Disease
Human and animal disease
