Fungi Flashcards
how do fungi get food?
heterotrophs - absorb it
nothing they can’t decompose
why is fungi essential for plant life?
root association
break down rocks releasing minerals, return nutrients to useable forms
why are fungi good for humans?
model organism to study lichen - pollution indicator food/drink - yeast penecillin bioredemination - break down anything truffles - odour mimics male pig pherephomes
what are mychorrhizal fungi?
found in soil, symbiotic root relationship
protect from pathogens and transport carbs
what are fruiting bodies?
made up of hyphae - tiny filaments
forms an interwoven mass to increase surface area
how are cell walls strengthened?
chitin to prevent rupture
how does fungi reproduce?
propagation - spores
sexual - mycelium differs self from non-self and two nuclie coexist and then fuse into diploid spores
asexual - spores dispersed and mycelium fragmentation
why are leafcutter ants relevant?
symbiosis
feed fungi and in return get fed, protect from pathogens and organisms less wary of not overconsuming
can control the microclimate
some fungi rely on this giving up spores
types of leafcutter ants?
minim - small
major - soliders
minor - defence
mediae - foragers
what is the relationship with lichen?
symbiotic provides carbs and is in return protected
break up solid substrates producing a suitable substrate for plants
how does lichen reproduce?
sexually and asexually - fragments break of and blown away
slow growing
what are mychorrizal cheaters?
use both the nutrients and the carbs
what is endophylic fungi?
fungi that live within the shoot system and deter diseases/herbivores and also are tolerant to salt/drought
how can spores get into the body?
breathed in and flourish in lungs/blood
