Mycology: study of Fungi Flashcards
Mycology
study of fungi
Fungi
more similar to animals than plants, with aquatic ancestors
that may well have been mobile; all have chitin (polysaccharide) as major part of cell wall
very important decomposers (some pathogens),
chemoorganoheterotrophs (OSMOTROPHS, critically important in carbon cycle –breaking down dead/living organic matter)
Mycelium
actual, individual fungal organism;it is composed of filaments/threads known as HYPHAE, which grow, reproduce, and feed
How does mycelium start out?
starts growing from a SPORE
spores are reproductive structures produced by fungi –when
spores germinate, hyphae begin growing from them, eventually
leading to a full mycelium underground
Hyphae
individual filaments move organic matter they absorb through osmotrophy into their cytoplasm throughout the entire
mycelium system
Pores in relation to hyphae
connect hyphal segments and are in support structures known as septa
Fungi are Osmotrophs…
hyphae release enzymes into the
environment that break down any surrounding organic matter; products of digestion are then absorbed by hyphae
Components of Fungi
Aboveground and Belowground components
Aboveground component of fungi
typically, the “fruiting bodies” (reproductive structures), such as MUSHROOMS OR SPORANGIA (diploid tissue); which are made of modified HYPHAE that produce SPORES (haploid) for reproduction.
spores released from fruiting body and then spread to
environment by water, wind, animals
spores germinate when soil temperature and moisture are
at right level…producing a mycelium when they germinate
Sporangia
diploid reproductive structures) variable morphology, can be used to identify species; produce haploid SPORES for reproduction, which
are also variable in structure
Belowground component of fungi
the mycelium, made up of hyphae, actual fungal organism
Alternation of Generations
(like plants & protists), means they have independent haploid gametophytes (that produce gametes) and diploid sporophytes (produce
spores
