Fungi Flashcards
What is hyphae? Mycelia?
Fungi consists of mycelia, an interwoven mass of hyphae (a network of filaments) adopted for absorption.
What are the two most common body structures of fungi?
- Multicellular filaments
2. Single cells (yeast)
What are haustoria?
Specialized hyphae that allow fungi to penetrate the tissues of their host.
What are mycorrhizae?
Mutually beneficial relationship between fungi and plant roots. Two types of mycorrhizal fungi: ectomychorrhizal fungi and arbuscular fungi.
What is the difference between ectomychorrhizal fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi?
Ectomychorrhizal fungi form sheaths of hyphae over roots and also grow into the extracellular spaces of the root cortex.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi extend hyphae through the cell walls of root cells and into tubes formed by invagination of the root cell membrane.
What is plasmogamy? Karyogamy?
Plasmogamy is the union of cytoplasm from two parent mycelia. Karyogamy is where the haploid nuclei fuse, producing diploid cells.
What are molds?
Produce haploid spores by mitosis and form visible mycelia. Asexual reproduction.
What are deutromycetes?
All fungi lacking sexual reproduction.
Describe Chytrids.
Found in freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Can be decomposers, parasites, or mutualists. Diverged early in fungal evolution. Produce flagellated spores (zoospores).
Describe Zygomycetes.
Exhibit great diversity of life histories. Include fast growing molds, parasites, commensals.
Describe Glomeromycetes.
Once considered Zygomycetes. Form arbuscular mycorrhizae. Approx. 90% of all plants have a mutualistic relationship with Glomeromycetes.
Describe Ascomycetes.
Live in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats. Produce sexual spores in sack-lack fruiting bodies (ascocarps). Include plant pathogens, decomposer, symbionts. Reproduce asexually by producing conidia (asexual spores produced at the tips of hyphae).
Describe Basidiomycetes.
Life cycle usually includes a long lived dikaryotic mycelium. In response to environmental stimuli, the mycelium reproduces sexually by producing fruiting bodies called basidiocarps - release sexual spores called basidospores.
Describe fungi’s role as decomposers, mutualists, and pathogens.
Fungi are efficient decomposers of organic material including cellulose and lignin, they perform, essential recycling of chemical elements between living and nonliving world. They form mutualistic relationships with plants, algae, Cyanobacteria, and animals. About 30% of known fungal species are parasites/pathogens (mostly only in plants).
What are endophytes?
Fungi that live inside leaves or other parts.
