Phylum Ascomycota (including Truffles) Flashcards
What % of described fungi are Ascomycetes?
~75%
What is the fruiting body of an Ascomycete called?
ascoma or ascocarp
What is an ascus (asci pl.)?
the sac like structure growing from the mycelium that produces ascospores
the defining feature of Ascomycetes
What are the sexual spores of Ascomycetes called?
ascospores
What is the defining feature of Ascomycetes?
asci (ascus s.)
Are ascospores motile?
no
What n type of mycelium does an ascoma have?
both dikaryotic (n+n) and haploid (n) mycelium
Where do asci form within an ascoma?
the dikaryotic hyphae
What is the apical cell of the dikaryotic hyphal tip of the ascoma where asci form called?
Crozier
What steps are involved in forming ascospores? How many are typically formed?
within the apical hyphal tip of the dikaryotic mycelium in the ascoma,
karyogamy and meiosis followed by mitosis produces 8 haploid ascospores
How are ascospores dispersed?
wind or animal/insect vectors
How does ascus development differ from basidium development?
asci are produced by a dikaryon that undergoes karyogamy and meiosis followed by one mitotic division = 8 haploid ascospores
basidia are produced by a dikaryon that undergoes karyogamy and meiosis only = 4 haploid basidiospores
Ascomycetes undergo one round of MITOSIS = 8 spores (n)
Basidiomycetes do NOT undergo mitosis = 4 spores (n)
T or F: Ascomycetes do not undergo mitotic division and usually produce 4 haploid spores
false!! they do have mitosis and produce 8 haploid spores
What are the sporangia of Ascomycetes called?
Asci (pl.)
Ascus (s.)
What are the 4 types of ascoma?
apothecial
perithecial
pseudothecial
cleistothecial
What is the hymenium?
the outer surface of the ascoma that is lined with asci
Describe apothecial ascoma and give an example
the hymenium (fertile layer) is exposed and curved in a cup-shape to release many asci at once for wind dispersal (ex. cup fungi)
ex. Ascobolus sp., Peziza sp.
Describe perithecial ascoma and give an example
the hymenium is enclosed but has a small opening to release one or few asci at a time via a sticky liquid to be dispersed by animal/insect vectors
ascoma is on host tissue surface or within stroma
ex. Claviceps purpurea (ergot fungus)
Describe pseudothecial ascoma and give an example
the hymenium is completely enclosed and the ostiole (opening) and ascoma are within the host stroma
ex. Venturia inaequalis (apple scab). Phaeocryptopus gauemanni (Swiss needle cast disease on Dfs)
Describe cleistothecial ascoma and give an example
no opening for ascospores to be released and instead the ascoma will decompose at maturity to be dispersed by animals/insects when consumed
ex. truffles, Tuber sp.
What are the 4 ascus types?
unitunicate-operculate
unitunicate-inoperculate
prototunicate
bitunicate
describe unitunicate-operculate asci. what type of fungi have these/give an example?
a single wall with a lid/operculum that opens at maturity to shoot out spores for wind dispersal
only in apothecial ascoma fungi - ex. cup fungi like Peziza sp.
describe unitunicate-inoperculate asci. what type of fungi have these/give an example?
a single wall with an opening at the top (no operculum/lid)
uses an elastic ring mechanism to shoot out individual spores for wind dispersal
found in perithecial and some apothecial
ex. Xylaria polymorpha (dead man’s fingers), a club fungus
describe prototunicate asci. what type of fungi have these/give an example?
no active spore-shooting mechanism - ascus wall dissolves and releases spores either by oozing out of ascoma or only if disturbed
usually cleistothecial and some perithecial
likely a feature that has evolved several times
ex. Elaphomyces muricatus (deer truffle) hypogeous
dispersed by mammals
describe bitunicate asci. what type of fungi have these/give an example?
double-walled (thin, rigid exterior and thick elastic inner)
outer wall splits and allows inner wall to absorb water and push spores upward (Jack in the Box)
ex. Ventura inequalis (apple scab) - pseudothecial ascoma
T or F: bitunicate and unitunicate asci are similar
false, they are very different mechanisms for releasing spores and likely diverged early
What occurs within the ascus?
nuclear fusion (karyogamy) and meiosis in teleomorphs and mitosis to produce 8 haploid ascospores
Define anamorph
the asexual phase of an Ascomycete
Define teleomorph
the sexual phase of an Ascomycete
Define holomorph
the complete life cycle (anamorph + teleomorph)
T or F: most Ascomycetes have a ‘perfect’ or complete holomorph
false! only ~15% of teleomorphs have been linked to an anamorph
Which are Ascomycetes more commonly known as, their anamorph or teleomorph?
anamorph - some sexual stages have not been observed
Why does the presence of anamorphs and teleomorphs make taxonomy challenging?
anamorphs and teleomorphs have distinct morphology and may have distinct ecological roles = same species assigned multiple names