Lecture 4- Fungi Flashcards
What shared derived trait(s) do all fungi share?
Absorptive heterotrophs, multicellular, chitinous cell wall (unique to fungi)
True or False: All fungi are multicellular
False; fungi can be single cell (yeasts) or multicellular
What is the basal fungal group?
Chytrids
A(n) _____ is a long, branching filamentous structure of a fungus
Hyphae
______ is the final step in the process of fusing together two haploid eukaryotic cells, and refers specifically to the fusion of the two nuclei
Karyogamy
True or False: A fruiting body refers to the entire body of a multicellular fungi
False; the term that refers to the entire body of a multicellular fungi is mycelium
What is the primary component of cell walls in fungi?
Chitin
What shared derived trait(s) do glomeromycetes share?
Mycorrhizae (symbiotic relationship with plants)
A(n) _____ is a rootlike structure that grows into or around another structure to absorb water or nutrients. In mycology, it refers to the appendage or portion of a parasitic fungus
Mycorrhizae
Specialized hyphae that penetrate plant tissue- can be parasitic or mutualistic
Haustoria
What type of enzyme do fungi secrete for digestion?
Hydrolases (hydrolytic enzymes)
What shared derived trait(s) do chytrids share?
Flagellated spores (zoospores - unique to chytrids)
What are the functions of hyphae?
Structure, feeding, predation, mutualistic symbiotic relationships, and reproduction
_____ is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae
Mycelium
True or False: Fungi thrive best in a dry environment
False; fungi thrive best in a moist, wet environment
____ ____ of fungi produce asexual reproductive spores and are specialized to permit dispersal
Aerial hyphae
True or False: There are two sexes of fungi, male and female
False; fungi have many mating types dependent on the number of alleles (no male/female)
A(n) _____ is a mutual symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant
Mycorrhizae
A(n) ____ ____ is a multicellular structure, like mushroom caps, on which spore-producing structures are born
Fruiting body
True or False: Spores are always haploid
TRUE
A(n) _____ is a multinucleate cell that contains genetically different nuclei and is the result of plasmogamy
heterokaryon
True or False: Fungi can reproduce both sexually and asexually
TRUE
What are endophytes?
Organisms, like fungi, that have mutualistic relationships with plants
Inside leaves or stems, make toxins that deter herbivores
What is mycosis?
A disease caused by infection with a fungus, such as ringworm or thrush
What is the sister group to fungi?
Nucleariids
Explain the process of fungal mating
Hyphae release and detect pheromones
Hyphae extend towards source of pheromones
If different mating types, meet and fuse cytoplasm, but not nuclei
Plasmogamy: Cytoplasmic fusion
Heterokaryon: Fused mycelium with different nuclei- n+n
Growth after plasmogamy-> cells grow and divide, nuclei divide without fusing
Later, karyogamy (nuclear fusion) occurs
-> Diploid zygote
Then meiosis restores haploid condition
Ultimately, spores form
Examples of Asexual Reproduction in fungi
Spores via mitosis
Cell division/budding
Chytrids
Terrestrial, freshwater, marine
Unique flagellated spores -> zoospores
Ancestral character state, all other fungal spores lack flagella
Molecular evidence indicates easy divergence- basal taxon
Zygomycetes
Zygospores
Mostly decomposers in soil
Black bread mold
Glomeromycetes
Form mycorrhizae
Mutualism present in 80% of plants
Ascomycetes
Ascospores
Largest number of known species
Very diverse- uni- and multicellular
Examples:
- Penicillium
- Morels and truffles
- Baker’s/brewer’s yeast
- Components of lichens
Basidiomycetes
Basidiospores
Many familiar fungi
- Bracket fungi
- Puff balls
- Wheat rust, corn smut
- Edible mushrooms
All sexual
Fungus-Animal Mutualisms
Helps break down plant material
Found in gut, nest
Practical Uses of Fungi
Consumption- morels and truffles, blue cheese
Yeasts- ferment sugars into CO2 and alcohol
Research- model organism for eukaryotic genetics
Medical- antibiotic production
