Fungi Flashcards
What are fungi?
Fungi are a group of heterotrophic living things.
Are there autotrophic fungi?
No, there are no autotrophic fungi.
What types of organisms can fungi be?
Fungi can be single or multicellular organisms.
What are fungi made up of?
Fungi are made up of thread-like structures called hyphae.
What do many hyphae combine to form?
Many hyphae combine to form mycelium.
What is the cell wall of fungi made from?
The cell wall of fungi is made up from chitin.
What type of nuclei do most fungi have?
Most fungi have haploid nuclei for the main part of their cell cycle.
What is the study of fungi called?
The study of fungi is called mycology.
What does it mean for fungi to be eukaryotic?
Eukaryotic means an organism that has a distinct nucleus or membrane-bound organelle.
What is nutrition in the context of organisms?
Nutrition is the way in which an organism obtains & uses food.
What are saprophytic fungi?
Fungi that obtain their food from dead, organic matter.
What are parasitic fungi?
Fungi which obtain their food from a living host.
What are obligate parasites?
Fungi that live on live hosts but do not usually kill them.
What are facultative parasites?
Fungi that kill the host and feed on the remains.
What is symbiosis?
When 2 organisms live in close association & at least 1 of them benefits.
What is Rhizopus?
A saprophytic fungus that lives off dead organic matter, e.g., bread.
What is the structure of Rhizopus?
Rhizopus exists as a mass of threadlike structures called hyphae, which spread out in all directions during growth.
What does a sporangium do?
Holds the spores.
What is an apophysis?
Supports the sporangium.
What is a columella?
Helps with support & provides food for spore nutrition.
What are spores?
Asexual reproduction.
What is a stolon?
Growth & reproduction.
What are rhizoids?
Hyphae that grow downwards into their substrate.
What is a sporangiophore?
Hyphae that grow upwards from their substrate.
What do many hyphae together (Sporangium, Rhizoids, & stolon) form?
Mycelium.
What are the functions of rhizoids?
Anchor the fungus to their substrate and release digestive enzymes into the substrate.
What is asexual reproduction in fungi?
Sporulation, where sporangiophores grow upwards and produce haploid spores.
What occurs during sexual reproduction in fungi?
Hyphae from opposite strains grow close together, leading to fertilization and formation of a zygospore.
What are unsuitable conditions for fungi?
Incorrect temperature, lack of nutrition, incorrect pH.
How does yeast reproduce?
By budding, where the nucleus of the parent cell divides and forms a new individual.
What are economic advantages of fungi?
Fungi are used to make beer & bread and produce some antibiotics.
What are economic disadvantages of fungi?
Fungi can cause parasites on humans, e.g., athlete’s foot, and affect crops like corn & wheat.
What is the mode of nutrition for fungi?
Heterotrophic.
Why is heterotrophic nutrition important in nature?
It recycles materials.
What environmental condition may stimulate sexual reproduction?
Lack of nutrients.
What is an example of a unicellular fungus?
Yeast.
What is an example of a multicellular fungus?
Rhizopus.
Which biomolecule does chitin belong to?
Carbohydrates.
What structure is found in plant cells but not in fungi?
Chloroplasts.
What is a heterotrophic organism?
An organism that cannot make its own food.
How does the genetic make-up of a new yeast cell relate to that of the parent cell?
Identical, as it’s reproduced by mitosis.
Why are daughter cells of yeast clones of the parent cell?
Because new cells are produced by mitosis.
Why is sporangium associated with asexual reproduction?
Because reproduction is asexual as the spores develop from one parent.
Name a form of nutrition employed by fungi that is not saprophytic.
Parasitic.
What is the role of gametangia?
Sexual reproduction.
Name a fungus that plays an important role in the baking industry.
Yeast, as CO2 is produced.
What organism reproduces by budding?
Yeast.
What can treat fungal infections but is of no use against viral infections?
Antibiotics.
Which form of reproduction results in the formation of a zygospore?
Sexual.
What is an advantage and disadvantage of asexual reproduction?
Advantage: no variation.
What is an example of an edible mushroom?
Field mushroom.
What is an example of a poisonous mushroom?
Death Cap.
