Phylum Basidiomycota Flashcards
Life strategies of most basidiomycota?
saprophytes
most are ECM
some plant parasites and pathogens (rusts and smuts)
T or F: some basidiomycetes are poisonous
true
T or F: basidiomycetes share some features (and a common ancestor) with ascomycetes
true
What features do basidiomycetes share with ascomycetes?
haploid nuclei in vegetative hyphae (aka monokaryotic)
chitin in hyphal cell walls
regularly septate hyphae with pore(s) in the septa
anastomosis of vegetative hyphae possible (non-meiotic recombination to produce genetic variability in asexual life phases)
dikaryotic life cycle phase
produce teleomorphs (sporophores)
produce anamorphs
What are the unique/identifying features of Basidiomycota?
the septa type and septal pores
extended dikaryotic phase
clamp connections
basidium and basidiospores
Describe the general structure of basidiomycete hyphae
regularly septate with septal pore(s) that may vary between species
Can you see basidiomycete hyphae septate pores with the naked eye?
no, only with an electron microscope
What are Holobasidiomycetes?
a class of Basidiomycota that consists of mushrooms and polypores
What are Phragmobasidiomycetes?
a class of Basidiomycota that consists of jelly fungi
Describe the septa pore structure of Holobasidiomycetes and Phragmobasidiomycetes
mushrooms and polypores, and jelly fungi, have septa with a DOLIPORE (central barrel-shaped structure) that is covered by a cap of membrane called a parenthesome
What is a dolipore?
the central, barrel- shaped septa pore found in Holobasidiomycetes and Phragmobasidiomycetes
it is covered by a parenthesome (membrane cover on both sides)
Describe the septal pore structure of Teliomycetes (Basidiomycetes, rust fungi)
a simple pore that is often blocked by a pulley-wheel occlusion
How do the septal pore structures of most Ascomycetes differ from yeast-like Ascomycetes and from Holobasidiomycetes, Phragmobasidiomycetes and Teliomycetes?
most Ascomycetes: central pore in septa open, but Woronin body is ready to cover if needed
yeast Asco: septa with many perforations from micropores
Holo + Phragmo: central-barrel shaped dolipore with membrane cap on either side
Telio: simple pore with a pulley wheel block
What are Teliomycetes?
a class of Basidiomycetes that include rust fungi
What does it mean that Basidiomycetes have an extended dikaryotic phase?
in comparison to Ascomycete teleomorphs that have a short-lived dikaryotic phase (in the ascogenous hyphae in the forming ascoma)
Basidiomycetes live and grow as a dikaryon for long time periods withOUT producing sexual structures - ie., dikaryon formation does not immediately cause sexual reproduction (formation of basidiospores)
T or F: both Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes can have dikaryotic anamorphs
false, only basidiomycetes
Explain how fairy rings are an example of an extended dikaryotic phase in Basidiomycetes
A fairy ring of dikaryotic basidiomycetes grow out radially from the central point where 2 compatible haploid nuclei mated
these can persist for years/decades and form ECM with host trees
Give an example of species that can produce fairy rings
Agaricus campestris, Marasmius oreades
Are the mushrooms growing above ground in a fairy ring the same or different genetic individuals?
the same, one genotype = clones
What are clamp connections? what is the function?
clamp connections are structures at the base of the basidium and each septum in dikaryotic hyphae
they function to pair different nuclei - ensures that different nuclei are in one individual (dikaryon)
What is the basidium?
the cell of Basidiomycetes where karyogamy and meiosis occur to produce haploid sexual spores (basidiospores)
What are basidiospores?
the haploid sexual spores formed by basidia via karyogamy and meiosis
What is the Ascomycete analogy to clamp connections in Basidiomycetes?
Crozier - located at the base of a forming ascus in the hymenium of an ascoma
What makes basidiomycete vegetative hyphae dikaryon?
the presence of clamp connections
Do all basidiomycetes have hyphae with clamps? give examples
no, boletes do not have clamps in their hyphae or haploid monokaryons
How many basidiospores does one basidium usually produce? From what structure of the basidium?
one basidium usually produces 4 haploid basidiospores at the tips of the sterigmata (prongs) projecting from the top of the basidium
What is a sterigma (s.)?
a prong that projects from the top of a basidium and holds a basidiospore
usually there’s 4 sterigmata (pl.), each with a basidiospore
spores shot actively from the sterigmata
T or F: all basidiomycetes have an active basidiospore releasing mechanism
False, some like hypogeous species or puff-balls use other mechanisms
How many haploid basidiospores does one basidium produce?
usually 4 haploid basidiospores, but some basidiomycetes produce only 2
What structures of mushroom species of Basidiomycota produce basidia?
the gill surface has a hymenium layer that produces basidia
How many spores do gilled basidiomycetes produce (a lot or few)?
A LOT - Agaricus campestris can produce 40 million spores/hour
Describe some benefits of Basidiomycota
nutrient recycling - they are often saprobes (wood decomposers) - decompose recalcitrant material like lignin
they can form ECM - restoration, reforestation
bioremediation
edible - wild and cultivated
therapeutic - Ganoderma lucidum, Trametes versicolor
WHat are 3 costs of basidiomycetes?
cause some significant tree and plant diseases
cause structural damage to wood frame buildings
human pathogens
Give an example of species that provide ecosystem services related to decomposing wood and lignin
Trametes versicolor, turkey tail white rot fungi decompose lignin
Give an example of species that can be used in bioremediation
Lentinula edodes, shiitake
these white-rot fungi can break down persistent human-made chemicals similar to lignocellulose (low specificity of enzymes)
Give an example of species that are cultivated
button (Agaricus bisporus)
shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Give an example of species that provide health benefits/therapeutic value
Ganoderma lucidum - Reishi = produces > 300 bioactive compounds
Trametes versicolor - turkey tail
Give an example of species that cause forest tree and plant disease
Heterobasidion annosum - Annosum root rot infects conifers like pine, spruce, juniper, larch hemlock - very important economically in North America
Give an example of species that cause human disease
Cryptococcus gatti - brain infections
dimorphic species converts from mycelium to yeast-like inside host
Give an example of species that cause brown rot in wood frame buildings
Serpula lacrymans causes dry rot inside buildings and can grow with even little moisture
What are the 3 major clades in Basidiomycete?
Agaricomycotina (true mushrooms, yeasts, jellies)
Ustilaginomycotina (smuts)
Pucciniomycotina (rusts)
each group is monophyletic and supported by rRNA sequences
How many % of the true fungi are included in Basidiomycota?
37%
large phylum of 30,000 described species
Of the described species in Basidiomycota, what % are in Agaricomycotina?
of the 70% of Basidiomycetes that are in the Agaricomycotina clade, 98% are in the class Agaricomycetes
Which is the biggest class of Agaricomycotina?
Agaricomycetes - produce mushrooms and other basidioma
What is a basidioma (s.; basidiomata pl.)?
aka basidiocarp
the structure on which basidia grow to produce basidiospores
Explain what it means to say that basidiomata in Agaricomycetes show a lot of diversity of forms
they can be as small as a few millimenters to the giant Rigidoporus ulmarius polypore (316kg)
or the Armillaria gallica with 15 hectare mycelial networks with a mass of 10,000 kg
What are 2 main orders within the subclass Agaricomycetidae?
Agaricales and Boletales
What type of mushrooms are included in the order Agaricales?
gilled mushrooms
a monophyletic group of 8500 species
What does it mean that gilled mushrooms are ephemeral?
generally the fungus exists as an underground mycelium and has a short-lived mushroom (teleomorph) growth
What lifestyles do gilled mushrooms (Agaricales) have?
saprophytes
pathogens
symbionts
animal trappers
When do mushrooms grow?
late summer and fall
Are mushrooms anamorphs or teleomorphs?
teleomorphs
What are the major features of an Agaricales mushroom?
stipe to support the cap (pileus)
radially arranged gills
may have a volva at the base of stipe or warts on the cap = remnants of a veil
may have a ring or annulus on the stipe - protects developing gills
may have a cortina (fluffy ring around stipe)
may have both ring and volva
may have no volva or ring
How do Boletale hymenia differ from Agaricales?
Boletales may have hymenium without gills but instead pores and have dense caps
What are the 4 hymenium morphologies of gilled mushrooms?
gills
pores
ridges
teeth
What are the 8 morphologies of caps for gilled mushrooms?
campanulate
conical
convex
depressed
flat
infundibuliform
umbilicate
no cap
Give an example of a basidiomycete that produces 2 basidiospores per basidium
Agaricus bisporus (button mushrooms) have 2 spores per basidium and each spore is a dikaryon (n + n)
What does sequestrate mean?
a species that does not actively release spores
Which mushroom is often confused with Chanterelles?
Cotinarius rubellus - deadly webcap
an extremely toxic Agaricales that can cause kidney failure
major differences: chanterelles have ridged gills that run all the way to the stipe, C. rubellus have gills that do not touch the stipe and are a different more rusty colour
Which mushroom genera is known as magic or hallucinogenic? what is an identifying feature?
Psilocybe sp.
ex. P. cyanescens - wavy caps
hallucinogenic ones have spore prints are blue when crushed
Describe the splash cup spore dispersal and give an example
ex. Cyathus olla (bird’s nest)
peridioles (spore container) are contained in a little cup that when splashed by rain water are launched into nearby shrubs to allow germination or consumption by mammals
What is the largest living organism?
the 880 hectare, 2400 year old Armillaria solidipes with a biomass of > 7500 tons in eastern Oregon
from Tricholomataceae family of order Argaricales
Give an example of bioluminescent fungi - explain what allows them to be luminescent
‘Foxfire’ fungi are bioluminescent fungi that decompose wood (all white-rot)
ex. Armillaria mellea and ~80 other species of Agaricales
luciferase enzyme causes it
What are some popular edible mushrooms from order Agaricales?
Tricholoma matsutake - pine mushroom
Pleurotus ostreatus - oyster
Pleurotus eryngii - king oyster
Give an example of a puff ball in Agaricales
Lycoperdon curtisii - aka ‘wolf farts’
Why is the puffball morphology called polyphyletic?
it has evolved repeatedly in different phyla
What is distinct about the order Boletales from the Agaricales?
Agaricales are gilled mushrooms with stipes (except puffballs)
Whereas, Boletales have pores and tubes (a FEW gilled and puffballs)
What is an example of a Boletales species?
Porcino mushrooms - Boletus edulis (edible)
What lifestyles do family Boletaceae have?
ECM
Describe the order Auriculariales from Agaricomycetidae subphyla
ear-shaped basidioma
they are jelly fungi
gelatinous basidiomata that produce septate basidia to produce spores
Example of an Auriculariales species
Auricularia auricula-judae - jelly ear (edible)
produces 4 basidiospores per basidium
Which Agaricomycetes are included in the order Russulales?
mushroom producing but an independent line of evolution from the Agaricales order (not directly related)
includes sequestrate, toothed, polypores, club and corticoid
What are some ectomycorrhizal Russulales?
Russula sp.
Lactarius sp.
What is an example of an edible Russulales?
Russula brevipes - Lobster mushroom which is white and then colonized by an ascomycete to become a bright orange
What are Polyporales? describe them and their lifestyle and give an example
persistent fungi (polypores or bracket fungi) in Agaricomycetes
wood decomposers (often white rot) that cause butt and root rot in living trees - economically significant.
perennial - grow layers of pores each year
ex. Trametes versicolor
Describe the order Cantharellales - lifestyles, morphology, etc. and give an example
basidiomata are diverse in form
saprophytes, some ECM (Chanterelles)
ex. Chanterelles (Cantharelleus cibarius), toothed, clavarioid and corticoid
Give an example of a toothed mushroom
Hedgehog - Hydnum repandum from order Cantherellales of Agaricomycetes
edible, ECM
Describe clavarioid fungi and give an example
club and coral fungi from the order Cantherellales
ex. Clavaria zollingeri
can be ECM, some lichenized
Describe corticoid fungi and give an example
crust, patch, paint fungi
ex. Stereum hirsutum
smooth basidiomata
usually saprophytic
Describe the subclass Phallomycetidae of Agaricomycetes
includes
earthstars - ex. Geastrum triplex
false truffles - ex. Hysterangium coriaceum
and stink horns - ex. Mutinus elegans (devil’s dipstick)
Describe the class of Agaricomycotina: Dacrymycetes
Dacrymycetes have only one family of jelly fungi and are saprophytic, usually a tuning fork shaped basidium with 2 sterigmata (not 4)
ex. Calocera cornea
Describe the class of Agaricomycotina: Tremellomycetes
gelatinous fruiting body
ex. Tremella mesenterica - witch’s butter
saprophytes some mycoparasites
4 sterigmata
What is the importance of Ustilaginomycotina (smut) fungi?
they are common plant parasites in crops like corn, barley and wheat
ex. Ustilago maydis - corn smut
T or F: smut fungi only parasitize angiosperms
true! they only need one host to fulfill their lifecycle too
What type of fungi are included in the subphylum Pucciniomycotina?
rusts, yeasts, smut-like and jelly-like
While Pucciniomycotina includes a LOT of diversity, what is one thing they all have in common?
they are all very small in size
Which group of fungi are the most economically important from the Pucciniomycotina subphylum?
the rusts - Pucciniales because they are obligate parasites on a wide range of crop species (grains, legumes, trees)
What is an example of a fungal species requiring more t han one host to complete its life cycle?
Pucciniales (rusts) often require 2 unrelated hosts
ex. Puccinia graminis infects barberry leaves with its basidiospores but then colonizes wheat with dikaryotic aeciospores
