Kingdom Fungi Flashcards
Write the characteristic features of kingdom Fungi
Eukaryotic
Cell walls are made of chitin, a strong but flexible polysaccharide
They are absorptive heterotrophs: many of them secrete extracellular enzymes which aid in breaking down complex molecules into small molecules
Different species live as decomposers, parasites or mutualists
Few are unicellular, other form multicellular filaments called hyphae
Septa can be found in hyphae (division of hyphae into cells by septa- cross walls)
Septum has a hole which enables the movement of mitochondria, ribosomes, nuclei, etc
Fungi which lack septa are known as coenocytic fungi (with many nuclei)
Fungal hyphae produce mycelium.
Multicellular fungi produce mycelia (a network of branched hyphae adapted for absorption of nutrition)
Some fungi produce haustoria (to penetrate and absorb, or exchange nutrients between plants and fungi)
They show sexual and asexual reproduction
They produce spores
What’s the common mode of nutrition of fungi?
They are absorptive heterotrophs: many of them secrete extracellular enzymes which aid in breaking down complex molecules into small molecules
Different species live as decomposers, parasites or mutualists
What is the function of septa in hyphae?
Division of hyphae into cells by cross walls
What does the hole in the septum enable the movement of?
Ribosomes
Nuclei
Mitochondria
What is mycelia?
A network of branched hyphae adapted for the absorption of nutrition
What are haustoria?
They are structures used to penetrate and absorb or exchange nutrients between plants and fungi
What are coenocytic fungi?
Fungi which lack septa and have many nuclei
Write the characteristic features of phylum Chytridiomycota
Aquatic or terrestrial
Some are decomposers while others are parasitic
Multicellular or unicellular. When multicellular, it’s coenocytic.
Some of them form colonies with hyphae while others exist as single spherical cells
They produce flagellated zoospores for reproduction
Cell walls are made up of chitin
Ex: Chytridium
What’s the common habitat of phylum Chytridiomycota?
Aquatic or terrestrial
What’s the common mode of nutrition of phylum Chytridiomycota?
Some are decomposers while others are parasitic
Describe the unicellular/multicellular nature of phylum Chytridiomycota
Multicellular or unicellular. When multicellular, it’s coenocytic.
Some of them form colonies with hyphae while others exist as single spherical cells
What’s the mode of reproduction of phylum Chytridiomycota?
They produce flagellated zoospores for reproduction
What are the characteristic features of phylum Zygomycota
Ex: Mucor, Rhizopus
Most of them are saprotrophs and some of them are parasites or commensals
Mycelium is coenocytic and aseptate. Septa are found only where reproductive cells are formed
Asexual reproduction:
Produce sporangia in which genetically identical haploid spores called sporangiospores are endogenously produced
Sexual reproduction:
A zygosporangium is produced, which is a sturdy structure produced by plasmogamy and karyogamy. Zygosporangium is resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions
They are metabolically inactive in adverse environmental conditions
Zygosporangium is a multinucleated structure which is resistant to drying and freezing
Zygosporangium produce genetically diverse haploid spores when environmental conditions are favorable
What’s the common nutritional mode of phylum Zygomycota?
Most of them are saprotrophs and some of them are parasites or commensals
What’s the structure of phylum Zygomycota?
Mycelium is coenocytic and aseptate. Septa are found only where reproductive cells are formed
Describe the asexual reproduction of phylum Zygomycota
Produce sporangia in which genetically identical haploid spores called sporangiospores are endogenously produced
Describe the sexual reproduction of phylum Zygomycota?
- A zygosporangium is produced, which is a sturdy structure produced by plasmogamy and karyogamy. Zygosporangium is resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions
- They are metabolically inactive in adverse environmental conditions
- Zygosporangium is a multinucleated structure which is resistant to drying and freezing
- Zygosporangium produce genetically diverse haploid spores when environmental conditions are favorable
Write examples for phylum Zygomycota
Mucor
Rhizopus
What are sporangiospores?
They are genetically identical haploid spores produced endogenously produced in the sporangia of phylum Zygomycota
What is a zygosporangium?
It’s a sturdy structure produced in the sexual reproduction of phylum Zygomycota, produced by plasmogamy and karyogamy. It’s resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions
What are the characteristic features of phylum Ascomycota?
Marine, freshwater or terrestrial
Most of them are decomposers
Parasitic or symbiotic
Unicellular or filamentous multicellular
In asexual reproduction, conidia are exogenously produced at the tip of conidiophores, which are specialized hyphae
In sexual reproduction, fusion of sexually differentiated gametangia takes place and produces sac-like structures called asci.
Most of these fungi produce ascocarps enclosing asci
Ascospores are produced within asci. Generally, there are 8 ascospores produced within each ascus.
Ex: Aspergillus, Penicillin, Saccharomyces
Describe the habitat of phylum Ascomycota
Marine, freshwater or terrestrial
Describe the mode of nutrition of phylum Ascomycota
Most of them are decomposers
Parasitic or symbiotic
Describe the cellular nature of phylum Ascomycota
Unicellular or multicellular filamentous
Describe the asexual reproduction of phylum Ascomycota
conidia are exogenously produced at the tip of conidiophores, which are specialized hyphae
What are conidia?
They are a type of spore produced in the asexual reproduction of phylum Ascomycota, produced exogenously at the tip of conidiophores which are specialized hyphae
Describe the sexual reproduction of phylum Ascomycota
In sexual reproduction, fusion of sexually differentiated gametangia takes place and produces sac-like structures called asci.
Most of these fungi produce ascocarps enclosing asci
Ascospores are produced within asci. Generally, there are 8 ascospores produced within each ascus.
What are asci?
Sac-like structures where the fusion of sexually differentiated gametangia takes place in phylum Ascomycota
Ascospores are produced within asci. Generally there are 8 ascospores produced in each ascus
What is the function of ascocarps?
Enclosing ascii
How many ascospores are produced in each asci generally?
8 ascospores
What are the characteristics of phylum Basidiomycota?
They are terrestrial
They are major decomposers and some are symbionts
Filamentous with septae and dikaryotic
Dikaryotic mycelium is the dominant stage of the life cycle
They produce fruiting bodies called basidiocarps during sexual reproduction. Produce basidia on the gills of the basidiocarp.
Produce exogenous basidiospores on basidium
.
Asexual reproductive structures are not common.
Ex: Agaricus , Puffballs, Shelf fungi
What is the habitat of phylum Basidiomycota?
They are terrestrial
Describe the mode of nutrition of phylum Basidiomycota
They are major decomposers and some are symbionts
Describe the structure of phylum Basidiomycota
Filamentous with septae and dikaryotic
What is the dominant stage of the life cycle of phylum Basidiomycota?
Dikaryotic mycelium
Describe the sexual reproduction of phylum Basidiomycota
They produce fruiting bodies called basidiocarps during sexual reproduction. Produce basidia on the gills of the basidiocarp.
Produce exogenous basidiospores on basidium
Give examples for phylum Basidiomycota
Agaricus , Puffballs, Shelf fungi
Give examples for phylum Ascomycota
Penicillin, Saccharomyces, Aspergillus
