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
