How do fungi feed?
They’re heterotrophic that feed by absorption; enzymes break down their surroundings
What are fungal decomposers?
Fungi that break down and absorb nutrients from cellulose and lingin (nonliving)
What are fungal parasites?
Fungi that absorb nutrients from the cells of living hosts and provide NO benefit in return
What are funal mutualists?
Fungi that absorb nutrients from a host organism while recriprocating actions that benefit the host
Why are decomposers important?
They release carbon and nitrogen from organic matter
What are some examples of mutualistic relationships?
- Fungus-plant mutualism (endophytes)
- Fungus-animal mutualism (leaf-cutter ants)
- Lichen (photosynthetic microorganisms)
Define mycosis
Infection cause by a fungal parasite, i.e. athlete’s foot
What are important usees of fungi?
- Ripen cheeses
- Edible fungi
- Yest to produce alcoholic beverages and bread
- Produce medixine and antibiotics
- Important in research
What are hyphae?
Tubular cell walls that surround the plasma membrane and cytoplasm of cells
What are fungal cell walls supported by besides hyphae?
Chitin
Name the two types of hyphae and their main difference
- Septae hyphae: hyphae are divided into cells and have pores
- Coenocytic hyphae: hyphae is a large cytoplasmic mass with a lot of nuclei
What is mycelium?
Interwoven mass of hyphae that absorbs nutrients and maximizes surface-to-volume ratio
What are arbuscules?
Used to exchange nutrients with their plant hosts; mutualistic relationship
What are mycorrhizae?
Type of fungus that has a mutually beneficial relationship with plants
How are mycorrhizal fungi beneficial?
Improve delivery of minerals compared to plant’s roots
How do fungi reproduce?
Sexually AND asexually
What constitues sexual reproduction?
Fungi with diploid stages partake in sexual reproduction with fungi with different pheremones to increase genetic diversity
What is plasmogamy?
Fusion of cytoplasm between two parent mycelia to produce HAPLOID cells
What is karyogamy?
Fusion of nuceli by two parents to produce DIPLOID cells
What constitutes asexual reproduction?
Fungi with haploid stages partake in mitosis, via spores or budding
What characterizes chytrids?
Flagellated spores
What characterizes zygomycetes
Fast-growing moulds that make food rot
What characterizes glomeromycetes?
They form arbuscular mycorrhizae
What characterizes acomycetes?
They are “sac fungi”
