Introduction to Mycology

Question 1

what is the etymology of the word “mycology”?

Answer 1

mykes = mushroom
logos = discourse
(Greek word)

Question 2

What is mycology?

Answer 2

study of mushrooms and fungi

Question 3

what are the 10 importances of fungi?

Answer 3

1. known decomposers
2. cause of important diseases of plants and animals
3. sources of chemicals
4. food and food production
5. production of harmful secondary metabolites like mycotoxins
6. can induce allergies due to toxic mold
7. bioremediation and bio-pulping agents
8. can be used in biological control schemes
9. establish mutualistic partners
10. used in experiments as model organisms

Question 4

what do you call the abnormal kernels?

Answer 4

corn smut

Question 5

what is the fungal disease that killed millions of bats?

Answer 5

white nose syndrome

Question 6

what is the cutaneous skin infection caused in humans?

Answer 6

Athlete’s foot disease

Question 7

what kind of chemical can fungi provide for industries?

Answer 7

molds can provide citric acid
Aspergillus and Penicillium are also sources of chemicals

Question 8

what fungi give soy sauce?

Answer 8

Aspergillus oryzae

Question 9

what fungi gives wine?

Answer 9

Saccharomyces

Question 10

what fungi gives molded cheese?

Answer 10

Penicillium

Question 11

what mycotoxin is found in contaminated corn?

Answer 11

fumonisin

Question 12

what mycotoxin is found in contaminated peanut?

Answer 12

aflatoxin

Question 13

toxic black molds are can grow in _________ and cause allergies

Answer 13

residential houses

Question 14

what fungi can do mycoremediation?

Answer 14

Sonoran mushroom

Question 15

how can fungi be used as biological control schemes?

Answer 15

it can be used as entomopathegenic or nematode-trapping fungi

Question 16

what fungi is used for experiments about circadian rhythm?

Answer 16

Neurospora crassa

Question 17

what are the 6 characteristics of fungi?

Answer 17

1. hyphae
2. radial growth
3. heterotrophic, external digestion, absorptive nutrition
4. reproduce by spores
5. chitin-containing fungal cell wall
6. ergosterol in cell membranes

Question 18

what are the microscopic tubular cells of fungi?

Answer 18

hyphae

Question 19

what do you call the mass of hyphae that can be observed macroscopically?

Answer 19

mycelia

Question 21

how do fungi digest food?

Answer 21

1. excrete digestive enzymes
2. digestive enzymes degrade substrate
3. hyphae absorb digested food

Question 22

what substance in cell membrane targets antifungals like triazole?

Answer 22

ergosterol

Question 23

function of hyphae

Answer 23

structural support and cell differentiation

Question 24

biggest organism on record

Answer 24

Armillaria gallica / humongous fungus

Question 25

T/F. Yeast fungi produce hyphae

Answer 25

No, unless dimorphic

Question 26

what do you call the internal walls of fungi?

Answer 26

septa